Customer service, streamlined operations, voter ID key issues for Republican secretary of state candidates

Republican secretary of state candidates Walter Adamczyk and Diane Harris, who are running in the March 17 primary to face Democratic incumbent Alexi Giannoulias in November, cite customer service and streamlining operations as their top priorities.

“We need better, faster service,” said Adamczyk, who also advocated for express service for veterans and seniors during a recent Daily Herald editorial endorsement interview.

“We need to restore integrity and fairness to the office which effects every Illinoisan every day,” he said.

Adamczyk, a GOP precinct committeeman from Chicago who works as a Cook County Forest Preserve District laborer, says his qualifications include bookkeeping, accounting and computer experience.

Harris, a longtime Joliet Township precinct committeeman, says her degree in management, experience owning a small business, knowledge of customer service and work with legislators make her the best candidate to take on Giannoulias, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

If elected, Harris said she will consult with union members and review job descriptions to streamline processes, improve productivity and “get more bang for our buck.”

“I'm running for secretary of state to give back the DMV services to the people,” she said. “I'm ready to go to work for the people of the state of Illinois.”

An issue on which the candidates disagree is the use of digital driver's licenses and state IDs, which are now available for iPhone and Apple Watch users. Citing concerns about identity theft and hacking, Adamczyk opposes digital licenses.

Harris said people should have a choice.

“This is the digital age,” she said, adding the decision whether to have a digital or traditional license or ID should be up to the individual. “It's a great option in terms of the way things are moving in this society.”

Both Adamczyk and Harris support the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act requiring proof of citizenship for people registering to vote in federal elections.

Proponents of the SAVE Act say it will ensure only U.S. citizens cast votes. Opponents say it could make voting more difficult because not all eligible voters have access to qualifying documents — such as a passport or birth certificate — that would enable them to register.

Harris said the proposed legislation, which passed the House of Representatives and is pending in the Senate, protects election integrity and prevents fraud.

“Anywhere we go we have to have ID,” Harris said.

“We need to know who's on the voter rolls,” she said. “One person, one vote.”

Adamczyk concurs and proposes additional action to “clean the voter rolls.” He says if someone hasn't voted in 10 years, that person should be removed from the voter rolls.

“We need accountability,” he said. “We need to have safer voting.”