Dan Brady: Illinois Secretary of State candidate answers Tribune Editorial Board questionnaire
To inform voters and to help the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board make endorsements, the board posed a series of questions to the candidates running for Illinois Secretary of State. See how other the other candidate answered here.
[What’s an endorsement, and why does the Tribune Editorial Board do them?]
Candidate name: Dan Brady
Running for: Illinois Secretary of State
Residence: Bloomington
Current occupation: IL State Representative - 105th District
Previous political experience (elective and appointed positions): McLean County Coroner, IL State Representative
Education: Southern Illinois University, St. Ambrose University
Spouse’s occupation: Retired from State Farm Insurance
Sources of outside income: Kibler Brady Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington
Questions with candidate’s answers
What changes would you make to improve traffic safety, particularly from the standpoint of teen drivers, driving while intoxicated and distracted driving?
As McLean County Coroner, I saw firsthand the death and destruction caused by driving while impaired and distracted driving. I believe education is the key to prevention.
As Secretary of State, I would like to use the S.O.S. Police Division to play a role in driver’s education in our schools. Explaining the related penalties and possible driver’s license loss that can occur when poor choices are made. Also, the process of administrative hearings and the maze of problems that can handicap a young driver’s future.
I am passionate about reducing all driving accidents, especially those due to distracted driving. This starts by developing better methods of teaching our young drivers the necessary precautions needed to be safe behind the wheel and the severe consequences of driving while intoxicated. I believe in partnering with behind-the-wheel teaching professionals like “Tire Rack Street Survivor”, a hands-on driving experience in real-world situations. They use the student’s own vehicle to teach them about its handling limits and how to properly control their own, personal vehicle. This will help students better understand their vehicle. They will also understand why they should always wear their seatbelts and why they should always never drink and drive.
Are there any specific inefficiencies within the office that need addressing or services that need improvement, and if yes, what would your improvements be?
There are numerous inefficiencies that I would work to improve; car and truck title filings, staffing and service issues at DMV facilities, cross training of employees, business related filings, technology upgrades, more online services that are easy to navigate, new license plate delivery methods, changes to the random insurance check program, and election integrity - starting with digital identification and partnerships with local election authorities. These are only a few of the improvements that I feel are necessary.
I will explain just one of my many ideas for improvement; the process of issuing vehicle titles. The current process of issuing titles is inefficient and burdensome. Illinois takes on average 3 to 4 weeks, according to the Secretary of State’s office, to deliver a title to an individual or business. Additionally, titles must be delivered via mail and are primarily stored via paper form. This is an antiquated method of issuing important documents, such as titles, that speaks to a larger problem of legacy methods that are currently being practiced by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. Other states such as Florida, already have an E-titling process that runs much more efficiently. They use software that is developed by private companies that store car titles in a centralized database that is transparent and utilizes the best cybersecurity methods available.
What would you do to modernize the office and make it more consumer-friendly?
The office of the Illinois Secretary of State needs to be brought into the digital era to help reduce wait times for services. As Secretary of State, it will be my goal to start building the foundational technologies our state needs to thrive. I will focus on partnering with the brightest innovators and technology experts this state has to offer. Developing better training for employees and ensuring they are trained in all areas of their workspace, S.O.S. facilities can better perform their multitude of services. This will allow for greater services to the public instead of having to return a different day due to key employees being gone. I would also change the way that driver’s tests for new drivers are given.
Give us the best example of when you displayed independence from your party or staked out an unpopular position.
I was able to help negotiate a workers’ compensation bill in response to the coronavirus pandemic that respected the interests of business and labor. To do this, Republicans and Democrats, business and labor, all had to sit down and work together to come to a compromise that respected everyone’s priorities.
Why should voters nominate you and not your opponent(s)?
As former McLean County Coroner and current State Representative, I have worked with the Secretary of State’s office on a variety of fronts. I have worked with the S.O.S. police on investigations, legislation dealing with organ and tissue donation, distracted driving initiatives, senior driving improvements, insurance and budgets of the S.O.S.’s office.
I have first hand experience with the operations of the office and a background of unique knowledge that will help me be an agent for change in the S.O.S. office. My experience working with the S.O.S.’s office has prepared me to better serve the customers and citizens who need services from the S.O.S. office.
I will be a Secretary of State who possesses the leadership, energy, and concern for the citizens of Illinois that the office needs! This office is not meant to create public policy, but rather provide customer service to the public, which I have excelled at all of my life. I will have a hands on leadership approach as Secretary of State.
