Jesse White to focus on Technology and Highway Safety if re-elected

Tobias Wall, The State Journal Register
Published: September 17, 2014

Secretary of State Jesse White wants to continue using technology to help improve efficiency in his offices and plans to work with government and business interests to improve safety on the state’s roads if voters elect him to a fifth term.

Already the longest-serving secretary of state in Illinois history who swore in 2010 that he wouldn’t run again, the Chicago Democrat called this his “last tour of duty” when he laid out his plans for the next four years during a Wednesday morning meeting with The State Journal-Register editorial board.

“I want you to be able from your smartphone to access my system and transact your business, renew your license, the list goes on,” White said. He didn’t offer a timeline for when such an app would roll out.

Another technology Illinoisans may soon see is cameras attached to Breathalyzer devices drivers convicted of driving under the influence are required to have in their vehicles if they want to drive while still handling their legal obligations.

White said he also wants to reactivate the Motor Vehicle Task Force, a committee made up of secretary of state staff, legislators and business interests that “kind of fell by the wayside” in recent years.

He said an increase in traffic crashes involving truckers in the Chicago area prompted his plan to resurrect the task force that will examine ways “to make these truckers more safe on our roads so the public will not become victim to some of the problems we’ve found within the trucking industry.”

One of those problems, White said, is that some truckers don’t follow federal rules on how many hours they can spend behind the wheel.

Responding to the popular criticism that the state is too tough on teens learning to drive, White said he makes no apologies.

“We’re talking about highway safety. I want the roads in Illinois to be the safest ever, and I want these young people to live a long and productive life,” he said. “I make no apologies to (critics) or to anyone.”

White said the General Assembly usually follows his recommendations.

“The General Assembly has been good to us. I’m batting just about a thousand with them. And when we come to them seeking support for various pieces of legislation that speaks to road safety, they’ve been supportive of us,” he said.

Also Illinois’ chief librarian, who can authorize grants to local branches, White said he’d work to make sure libraries remain hubs of culture and education across the state.

White will face Republican Mike Webster, a Chicago-area attorney and certified public accountant, in the Nov. 4 election. Asked if he thought he would beat his little-known challenger, White said, “I would surmise.”