(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Illinois Republicans hold no statewide offices, but Diane Harris (pictured, right) wants to change that.

Harris is the GOP nominee for secretary of state, an office held now by Democrat Alexi Giannoulias. He has a multi-million-dollar campaign fund amid speculation that he will run for mayor of Chicago in the spring. But that doesn’t intimidate Harris, she says. “You don’t need that much to beat me,” she told the WTAX Morning Newswatch, “but i don’t see it as a concern to me. I just want to make sure that individuals who may consider supporting me don’t look at that as a hindrance. We still need funding to get out and get our message out.”

Harris’ resume includes a career at Commonwealth Edison, ownership of a Joliet dress shop, and service as a Joliet Junior College trustee.

She says she wants to bring customer service back to the secretary of state’s office. While putting services online is one thing, she fears it’s come at the expense of old-fashioned service. “Not everyone is up to par on the Internet, so we should have many options to choose from,” said Harris. “I have had many, many complaints in terms of individuals wanting to just walk right in, get their service, and walk right out, like it used to be.”