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Political affiliation: Republican Party

City: Aurora

Marital status: Married

Occupation/Firm name: Business Owner

Campaign HQ address: home

Campaign website: www.ILstateSec.com

What is your campaign budget- No response

What are your top priorities for the office- For challengers, would you move in a direction different than the course set by Jesse White-

I will immediately launch a Forensic Audit of the Secretary of State's Accounting Files with measurable objectives being:

a. Save money with sensible resource allocation and waste reduction

b. Eliminate inaccurate accounts, reporting errors and fraud

c. A benchmark precursor for the following objectives below.

Create a Zero Based budgeting plan.

a. We will begin each Secretary of State's fiscal year at $0 and require all managers to rationalize first and second level line items in their budgets.

b. Bonuses, if any, will be based on year over year budget and efficiency improvements.

Provide unfettered public web access to all accounting files of the Office of the Secretary of State, including, but not limited to:

a. A detailed Org Chart with names, titles & salary of every employee

b. All bids and every winning bid with an explanation as to why that bid won

c. Expense reports with details on each expenditure

These improvements will save 10%, at a minimum. At an annual intake of about $2B/Year, we estimate to save $200,000,000 for the people of Illinois. I present before the Illinois General Assembly and ask for a substantial portion of this to go back to the people of Illinois and to directly reduce the $13,000,000,000 Illinois deficit.

Given the state's budget crisis, what would you cut or scale back in the secretary of state's office- For the incumbent, what have you already cut-

The incumbent has boasted in speeches at having the largest SOS office of any other in the US and at nearly 4,000 employees, we believe him. In 2011, as Secretary of State, I will immediately cut excesive salaries and bloated consultant fees. The promised audit will provide the backdrop for which cuts are necessary and by how much; I will announce these when we publish the results. Per capita number of employees (as compared to other States' SOS functions) and number of transactions per SOS employee will help guide us in further adjustments, up or down, as necessary.

What are your plans to make operations in the secretary of state's office more efficient, more automated and more consumer friendly-

We must give an incentive for citizens to "serve themselves," much as airlines do when passengers are checking in. Incorporation fees presently have an increase when done on line - this is exactly backwards, and we will rescind any extra charges on "do it yourself" activities.

There will be a "web access" lane at the physical addresses of the SOS. In addition, we intend to implement stand alone "web kiosks" where appropriate; as well as partner with bank ATM's to accomplish transactions whenever possible.

We will continue to have people answering questions for individuals who prefer that service. They will wait a little longer, but the person attending them will be courteous and well-versed in all services.

We will try to stagger hours at the Secretary of State's Offices. Earlier mornings, later evenings and all-weekend hours will be made available since most people presently have to take off work to accomodate SOS work hours. We intend to give our employees options as to their work hours to better fit a balanced service to the public and improve morale.

The secretary of state often champions certain causes related to the duties of the office. Would you do the same- If so, what issues would you focus on-

We need to continue to champion tissue and organ donation. We must also champion Blood and Plasma Donations since the cost of a pint of blood can run in the hundreds of dollars - depending on availabilities. By motivating the public to help increase blood supplies, give more persons a "second chance" as well as contribute to cost reduction in overall trauma and emergency medical care in Illinois.

Are the penalties for DUI violations sufficient- Would you support increasing them-

We must continue to monitor data on a yearly basis to show effectiveness. We will also evaluate data from the other 49 States. When necessary, we will increase penalties to make our highways safer for all who use them.

For teens, should the age or the process for getting a driver's license change in any way-

Not at the present. This is another area in which we will evaluate data from around the United States to make changes, if and when appropriate.

How would you improve the services currently provided to Illinois businesses by the secretary of state's office-

Small business creation. Presently, to organize and LLC in Indiana costs $90. The same process in Illinois costs $650 (with not one "peep" of protest in the name of the constituency, as usual on any increase, from the incumbent). This sends the wrong signal to small business owners - who have other options, especially if they live close to an Illinois border. We must insure small business owners do not feel inhibited nor daunted by red tape or excessive costs to incorporate and have their firms flourish.

We must do more for micro-loans; here I am referencing a partnership with private banks and a general account, funded and governend by independent bankers.

How would you improve public access to data generated by the secretary of state's office-

Absolute accountability with "real time" access at every level. Live web (or "cloud") computing databases have been around for a long time. I simply intend to flip a switch and have the owners (Illinois citizens) have complete access with easy-to-understand indexing and cross referencing so person can quickly navigate to their area of interest.

As the incoming Secretary of State, I have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, by implementing this strategy on behalf of the people of Illinois.

Should the Legislature make any changes to the campaign finance law passed in 2009- Would you support capping donations from party leaders during general elections-

Absolutely & immediately.

This office regulates lobbyists. Do you think there should be tougher sanctions for unethical lobbyists- Should lobbyists be required to divulge how much they are paid by each client-

Yes. The public must be provided unfettered access to all activities of government. As for penalties, these must be increased.

List your educational background

MBA, International Marketing, Baldwin-Wallace College, Cleveland, OH

BS in Management Science, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

USMC Command & Staff College, Washington, DC.

Please list civic, professional, fraternal or other organizations to which you belong

No response

Have you held elective or appointive political office or been employed by any branch of government-

Illinois Human Rights Commissioner

Combat Engineer, Officer, United States Marine Corps

Please list jobs or contracts you, members of your immediate family or business partners have had with government

None.

Name your five biggest campaign contributors and the amount they contributed

On file with the State Board of Elections

Please paste a brief biography here

ROBERT S. ENRIQUEZ

Republican Candidate for Illinois Secretary of State

Robert S. Enriquez was born a US citizen in Honduras, spent formative years in Panama and arrived in the US at age 13. Native in English and Spanish, he has studied French, German

& Portuguese and over the last 25 years has lived and traveled extensively within every country of Latin America. Possessing a BS in Management Science from Case Western Reserve University and

International Marketing MBA from Baldwin-Wallace College, both in Cleveland, he has lead successful transnational marketing, distribution and manufacturing projects in the Western Hemisphere, Europe and the Middle East for Fortune firms. In 1999 he spearheaded a transfer of Ford automotive capability from a Mexican maquiladora to Glendale Heights, Illinois, thereby demonstrating that local manufacturing jobs and an increase in the state's tax base, as opposed to unrestrained outsourcing, is viable.

Robert Enriquez has served our nation as a US Marine officer in various capacities including overseas combatready troop command, chief simultaneous interpreter & advisor to US flag commands. He has received specialized NATO officers training and attended military schools in Europe and the US, including graduation from the prestigious USMC Command and Staff College in Washington, DC, a school reserved for flag and staff officer candidates.

In 2005 he was appointed to a state mandated Republican seat on the Illinois Human Rights Commission. As Commissioner he sustains, modifies or reverses adjudicated punitive and damage complaints throughout the State under the Illinois Human Rights Act.

Recently, he has helped deploy affinity and grass roots marketing strategies for large private and public entities. He also participates in Hispanic initiatives with nonprofit and governmental bodies throughout the greater Chicago area. He is past President and Board Member of the Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and board member of the River Valley Workforce Investment Board.

Accustomed to large international forums (500+), as a public speaker he has been noted for his abilities in dialogue as well as style in either English or Spanish. Robert is producing and narrating a bilingual Hispanic gang prevention video involving local Hispanic felons at Stateville penitentiary. Entitled "When Gangs Don't Kill You," it targets Hispanic junior high students on the consequences of the gang life-choice.

Robert Enriquez lives in Aurora with his wife Dania Enriquez Torres, a native of Puerto Rico, and has four children: Noelia, Adriana, Alexandra and Robert, Jr.

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