Saving the "official" announcement of his candidacy for secretary of state in 2006 for his central Illinois supporters, state Sen. Dan Rutherford told a cheering audience in Pontiac Monday evening that if elected he would "bring the next generation of technology to serve the people of Illinois."

With his mother and sister flanking him and other family members behind him on a stage at the Pontiac Elks Lodge, Rutherford gave a 15-minute announcement speech at 6 p.m. Monday that capped a day that saw him announce first in Chicago, then in Springfield, that he would seek the Republican nomination for secretary of state.

"We really, really, really can do this," Rutherford said, at the end of his speech, about ousting an incumbent, Jesse White, who won all 102 counties in the state in 2002. "I know that we're taking on a challenge ... probably like none others, but I also know that Jesse White has never run against Dan Rutherford before." 

Before his speech, Rutherford was cheered with chants of "Dan for S.O.S." from the audience of about 200, and he told them he had to announce in Chicago, with its millions of residents and major television and radio stations, and also in Springfield, the capital city where the state government is concentrated. But he said he had to come home -- central Illinois -- for the evening's event.

"This is the official announcement that Dan Rutherford is a candidate for the office of secretary of state," he said, provoking one of the biggest rounds of applause from an audience that ranged from Republican leaders in Livingston County to a contingent of Young Republicans from Champaign-Urbana.

"We serve millions of customers every day," Rutherford said about ServiceMaster Corp., of which he is a vice president, laying out a campaign theme that includes better use of the Internet and other technology for a public office that he described as the largest retail government service.

"Government has to change and serve just like the principals in the private sector," he said. Noting that anyone can book a commercial airline flight on the Internet down to a specific seat and a choice of meal, Rutherford said "It's time for government to bring in the next generation of technology to help serve the people of Illinois."

Noting his familiarity with the state budget from his 14 years in the Legislature, and his knowledge of business gained through 19 years working for a Fortune 500 company, Rutherford said, "Government services are a monopoly, and they can tell you to come back another day after waiting two hours in line, but not under Dan Rutherford as secretary of state of Illinois," he said

He said he would run the secretary of state's office more like the private sector, such as allowing people to make an Internet reservation for an appointment at a Department of Motor Vehicles facility. A credit-card deposit would confirm the appointment -- just like booking an airline seat -- and the deposit would be forfeited if the person did not show up for the appointment.

As secretary of state, Rutherford said, he would ask the private sector -- including service companies dealing with delivery, services or fast food -- to help improve government's services to people.

He said he believes state employees want to serve the public well, but that sometimes "they don't have the tools or the resources to do it."

Rutherford, 50, told the audience that it would take at least $3 million to run for secretary of state, and $5 million "if we're really going to play with the big boys." And it will take a statewide organization -- from Cairo and other southern Illinois areas to north Lake Shore supporters in Chicago to South Siders in that city -- for a successful challenge to White, Rutherford indicated.