FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS, ILLINOIS HAS A NEW SECRETARY OF STATE. 

IT'S THE END OF AN ERA FOR JESSE WHITE, WHO SERVED AS SECRETARY OF STATE SINCE 1999. THE MAN TAKING HIS PLACE, FORMER ILLINOIS TREASUER ALEXI GIANNOULIS (jih-new-lee-us).

GIANNOULIS SAYS HE PLANS TO FOCUS ON INCREASING TRANSPARENCY AND USING TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE.

WHITE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO HOLD THE OFFICE IN 1999 AND IS THE LONGEST SERVING SECRETARY OF STATE IN ILLINOIS HISTORY.