Jerry Cosentino, Democratic candidate for secretary of state in the Nov. 6 election, said he will use his 12 years of experience as Illinois State Treasurer to combat the administrative challenges in the secretary of state’s office.
January 1, 1990
The biggest function of that office is to get all of the departments operating properly, the 58-year-old from Chicago said. Too little attention is given to the administration of that office.
The departments of vehicle services, driver services, the securities industry, the police force, literacy programs and the Illinois State Library are part of the secretary of state’s office.
Cosentino said he would like to upgrade the computer systems and improve the morale of workers in the secretary of state’s office.
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Cosentino’s campaign calls for fingerprinting school bus drivers, allowing the secretary of state to revoke the license of anyone convicted of a drug offense, and maintaining a strong library system as well as improving adult literacy programs.
The secretary of state is the state librarian and chairperson of the Illinois Literacy council.
Literacy, productivity and the overall quality of our workforce are becoming increasingly interdependent, Cosentino said.
It has often been noted that the success of a democratic government is predicated on an informed and educated electorate, he said.
He said there are two separate and confusing statutory references for consideration of criminal offense convictions both of which currently affect only a part of the school bus driver population in Illinois.
Cosentino said fingerprinting will allow criminal background checks on school bus driving applicants.
As the next secretary of state, transportation safety will be a top priority in my administration, he said. The safe pickup and delivery of our kids is at the forefront of my platform.
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Cosentino said he will ask legislators to support a DUI crackdown that includes tougher drunk driving standards for minors.
We must begin at the earliest possible age to teach our kids that they cannot endanger themselves and their friends by drinking and driving, Cosentino said.
Cosentino’s plan calls for separate intoxication levels for minors and a less severe penalty for drivers convicted with alcohol levels less than .10.
Cosentino’s political activity began in 1975 when he was elected to a seat on the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago. In 1978 he began his first term as state treasurer.
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