Diane M. Harris

Candidate Q&A

Why are you running? 

To give the service back to the people by offering faster, fair service for all. The Secretary of States office exists to serve the people. Unfortunately, in recent years it has not. It has failed to do so in ways that are efficient, effective, or respectful of taxpayers. What should be a simple visit for families or individuals to do business at the DMV has become confusing, inconvenient, and costly requiring unnecessary travel and long delays just to meet basic customer needs. Business license processing times are excessive, response from hearings take far too long, and the appointment system does not work for everyone. These inefficiencies has place an undue burden on citizens and small business alike. I’d like to install drive up windows and kiosks in area where there are DMV deserts so everyone can have basic service.

I will to review the $885M budget for wasteful spending, fraud, and then to reallocate resources to improve services and reduce fees particularly for seniors and veterans. We must also ensure that voter registration is secure, accurate, and up to date by working with other governmental agencies to clean up the voter rolls and protect election integrity.  In addition, I want to build stronger partnerships with high schools and private drivers schools to implement a new robust rules of the road that better prepare young drivers for the road.  I will cooperation with the federal government to responsibly share information from  red-light enforcement records as it focuses on public safety and will help keep our communities safe. I support repealing the laws that grant driving privileges to illegals who should not be driving and as your next constitutional officer, I will ensure fairness and accountability under the law.  Lastly, I will monitor our cyberspace to make sure we are protecting your data while being prepared for the AI revolution. Addressing these top priorities will restore the Secretary of State’s office to its proper role of service to the people, protect our constitution and operate with the efficiency and integrity citizens deserve. My commitment is faster, fairer DMV services for all. 

What skills or experience do you have that make you particularly suited to this position?

As a small business owner I’ve managed tight budgets, made payroll, filed quarterly taxes, annual financial reports,  recruited, listened to concerns of others, able to identify great character, made tough decisions with real consequences and can be a great team player.  I have integrity, can follow rules, manage customers relationships, be accountable, and I am goal oriented.  As a liability representative I’ve determined risk, have investigated and determine the cause with no room for error, and will focus on transparency always. Understanding the importance of remaining compliance is a big part of making the government accountable.  Lastly as a Trustee for both the Joliet Public Library and the Joliet Junior College, again making tough decisions, being a policy maker, a public servant utilizing communication skills have built community trust making me the best suited for this seat.  As mentioned earlier,  being trained in governance leadership these are the skills I will bring to accomplish the goal of achieving a government that serves the people. 

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

The office tends to advertise very well and attract the attentions of the 30 million people it serves which is a good thing. But callback service and  response time for those programs are challenging confusing, considered flawed to others, especially for those individuals who don’t use on line services. Seems we need more of the face to face and the feed back response on new programs. The appointment process is a great example of how a new program it is not working in certain areas and no resolution has been offered to fix it. I’d like to see access to dedicated walk in service lines where customers have more convenience and have more responses to the customer.  Again making government work for the people.  

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

The fact that some consumers have to drive outside of their immediate district to get service, not all customers are online, and cost of the services are challenging for some.  So again making more dedicated walk in service lines for seniors and veterans, finding more ways within the spending budget to reallocate some cost of service back to the consumer without causing other financial challenges would be measures that could be implemented.  And in the DMV deserts, provide access by using drive ups, and kiosks in public areas where convenience is priority making DMV service accessible for all. There again, a government working for the people is what I plan to address.

Is there a major policy initiative or financial issue you will look to tackle in the next year? 

Yes, review policies for service delivery and review policy that discussed job responsibilities and how they relate to enhancing the customer service experience.  We must provide a respectful atmosphere and focus on code of conducts relating to the interaction between our customers. Next the online registration process is important to streamline so that we focus on two things drivers and voters. For our 8.5 million drivers, it’s important to know who’s on the road and to share info when requested by the federal government to keep all individuals safe.  When registering to vote, we must make are checks and balances for all voters in our state of Illinois are working closely with our clerks and board of elections to prevent duplicates and fraudulent applications. These actions will protect election integrity. The financial issues are to review for wasteful spending and redirect to reduced fees for those who need them most; seniors and veterans.  Also review the convenience fees assessed at remote locations. Working with the legislators with these key initiatives is again a way to give service back to the people. 

If you are elected, what would the end of a successful four-year term look like for you?

Reduced spending, reduced customs complaints, reduced fraudulent applications, strengthened public safety, reduce red tape in business areas, drive ups implemented, seniors and veterans received reduced fees, no cybersecurity leaks, legislation passed to remove illegal drivers from the roads, every department is meeting goals and staying compliant. Productivity is stable and every job vacancy is filled with qualified personnel. A show of increased moral that is exhibited through out our 140 offices during every customer interaction.  Just having a government that is working for the people is all I could ask for! 

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

A strong customer relations department to handle complaints and concerns. A public schedule of  on-site or zoom visit for each office.  Again giving back the services to the people is a government that works.