Ryan’s campaign calls for a more accessible office. He pledges to conduct an open, cost-conscious, professional administration.

The secretary of state’s office is in charge of driver services, vehicle serves, state libraries, literacy programs, the overseeing of the securities industry, the police force and traffic safety.

Ryan, 56, entered Illinois politics as Republican Leader of the House in 1977. In 1981, he became House Speaker. In 1982, as Gov. James R. Thompson’s running mate, he was elected lieutenant governor.

Ryan is pushing a more responsive, cost-effective administration. A nominal filing fee for administrative hearings would recover some costs, Ryan said.

Filing fees will help defray the cost of hearings and provide incentive for people to attend their hearings, Ryan said. Too many hearings are missed, which imposes unnecessary costs upon taxpayers.

Ryan said he also would like to experiment with placing mini-facilities for the drivers license bureau in shopping malls. The facilities would provide vision testing for drivers needing to renew their licenses.

Among Ryan’s major proposals is tougher enforcement and penalties for impaired drivers.

We must continue to tighten driving restrictions, Ryan said. We must increase penalties for those who ignore reasonable limits, and we must increase deterrence though sobriety checkpoints.

Ryan said he will ask legislators to lower the blood alcohol concentration for the legal presumption of intoxication from .10 to .08. His proposal also calls for increased penalties for drivers with BAC levels above .18, .27 and .35.

Ryan also has vowed to curb illiteracy and build strong leadership in the state’s libraries.

Ryan said he will eradicate the disease of illiteracy in Illinois.

Ryan says the secretary of state, as state librarian, can improve the libraries in Illinois.

There is a direct relationship between libraries and education, Ryan said.

Grants to libraries from the office of the secretary of state can be used to further develop the state’s library system, he said.

The most important step is to advance library awareness, Ryan said. He said Illinoisans must be reminded of the vital role libraries and librarians play in their lives.

Ryan’s experience in state government includes being chairman of Thompson’s Rural Affairs Task Force.