The Democratic candidate for Illinois attorney general said he supports much of the work Lisa Madigan has done in the 16 years in that office, but added there are some areas where he would focus more attention.
Kwame Raoul, a Democratic state senator from Chicago, said he wants to see more resources given to the office's public access counselor, which handles open records requests. He believes that would better root out corruption.
“You won’t have public officials and people serving in a public way do things when there are eyes watching them,” Raoul said on GLT's Sound Ideas. “I think the attorney general’s office plays a critical role with regards to the public access counselor.”
Raoul, a former prosecutor, sponsored the legislation which created the public access counselor in the AG’s office.
He avoided any criticism of Madigan but said he intended to collaborate with federal and local prosecutors to investigate public corruption.
“I plan on investigating any allegation of public corruption, credible allegation of public corruption, brought to my attention,” Raoul said.
Raoul added he would also look to be a stronger advocate for criminal justice reform.
Crosscheck
Raoul said Gov. Bruce Rauner risked the integrity of Illinois voters' personal data, when he vetoed a measure to end the state's involvement in the multi-state Crosscheck voter registration system.
“I think it’s just outrageous that the governor, just a few days after the revelation of the indictment of Russian hackers hacking into our state Board of Elections (voter database), that the governor would take that action,” Raoul said.
Raoul called the veto politically motivated. Crosscheck is intended to identify voters who are double registered.
The State Board of Elections has placed the Crosscheck program on hold, citing security concerns.
Raoul was in Bloomington on Saturday to campaign for Nikita Richards, a Democratic candidate for McLean County clerk.
Raoul has served in the Illinois Senate since 2004, when he replaced Barack Obama, following Obama's election to the U.S. Senate.
Raoul faces Republican Erika Harold in the general election in November.
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