RACE: Secretary of State

About the Candidate

Name: Jon Stewart
DOB: March 4, 1967
Occupation: Automobile dealer
Political Experience: Former candidate: U.S. Congress, Illinois Governor
Website: stewin22.com
Twitter: @jstewin22

Candidate Statement

Hello my name is Jon Stewart and I am a candidate for Secretary of State, and thank you for allowing me to speak to you today and thank you for WTTW for giving us this platform and allowing us to introduce ourselves and discuss our strategy for our given offices that we’re running for.

In this Secretary of State race, I am proud to say for the first time in my 25-year political journey I am by far the most experienced political candidate. My other two opponents are entrenched Illinois politicians and do not have the experience of dealing with the Secretary of State that I have for the past 25 years.

And in those 25 years, I have ran my fathers automobile dealership along with my father and the rest of my family. And many don’t know that the Illinois Secretary of State is the overseer who does watch on automobile dealers in the state of Illinois. And 40 years, in the same location, in the Far North Side of Chicago we have not had one violation with the Illinois Secretary of State. It is that strict adherence to procedure and policy that I will bring to the office of Secretary of State and also lower fees, because without a doubt the Secretary of State can do more with less.

Like you, I have experienced the waiting in line for the Secretary of State to do any number of things, like license and title. Sometimes the better option is actually even going to your dentist.  I want you to know, in the Jon Stewart administration, those days are over. I am here to tell you that we will be more affordable, more efficient and more user friendly.

If you want to change Springfield like we all do, then we have to change who we send to Springfield. I hope you remember that in November. My name is Jon Stewart, and thank you for listening to me today.

Candidate Q&A

Why are you running?

Because I am, without question, the most qualified candidate of my two opponents. I am running to finish the job of Jesse White and ensure the Secretary of State Office can do more with less. I am also running to keep my opponent Alexi from doing any damage to the agency like he did to his family's bank.

What does this office do well, and what needs fixing?

The office does well with coordinating the driver's license process. However, they should issue hard copies immediately, they should be more flexible with undocumented people and without question they need to be more accommodating to the auto dealers' needs. That means, special areas or buildings for title service, special sections on their website for expedited titling and of course the elimination of "minutes of the meetings" for small corporations. 

I also would eliminate new hires from participating in the Illinois pension program. Someone has to start saving our pension program and it isn't the Republicans or the Democrats willing to do anything to help save it.

What is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?

The biggest issue facing my constituents is the violence and genocide on the South and West Sides of Chicago. How can I help? I am not sure as Secretary of State but I can have the Secretary of State Police force assist the patrolling of the area and alleviate in some fashion, the stress on the Chicago Police Department.

What specific steps would you take to ensure your office is accessible and responsive to your constituents?

I would make my office accessible by actually answering the phone! I would make my office accessible by having the needs of the public come first more than the convenience of my employees. The department is rife with bad attitudes, a lack of empathy and patience and a clear and readable website.