BURRIS IN CAIRO TO DRUM UP SUPPORT; PRIMARY VICTORY CERTAIN, HE SAYS

CAIRO, Ill. -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Roland Burris Wednesday expressed confidence that he would win the Democratic nomination in the March 17 primary election.

Burris, who announced his candidacy in August, is one of four major Democratic candidates in Illinois. Another is U.S. Rep. Glen Poshard.

Republican Secretary of State George Ryan is the major Republican candidate. Lawrence Redmond is running on the Reform Party ticket.

"I will be the Democratic candidate," said Burris, speaking to a number of groups in Cairo. He spoke to a group of Cairo junior- and senior-high-school students, a senior citizens group and a community meeting.

Burris reiterated his promise to deliver $2 billion in school aid over a six-year period with no tax increase.

"My plan will bring long overdue relief to our poorest schools without costing taxpayers a single new tax dollar," Burris said.

Burris, a Centralia native, became the first black to hold statewide office in Illinois when he was elected comptroller, a position he held for three terms starting in 1979. He served as attorney general of Illinois from 1991-1994.

During the past three years he has practiced law as a managing partner in a Chicago minority law firm.

"This is a new time," said the 60-year-old candidate, who ran unsuccessful campaigns for governor in 1994 and mayor of Chicago in 1995.

"I have never lost to a Republican," said Burris, who faces Poshard; John Schmidt, a former U.S. assistant attorney general; and Jim Burns, a Quincy native and former U.S. attorney, in the Democratic primary.

Republican Gov. Jim Edgar is retiring.

Burris lost to Democrat Dawn Clark Netsch in the 1994 primary.

Burris touched on other issues Wednesday, but said his top priority is education funding. Burris promised to deliver $2 billion in additional state funding for education at the rate of $300 million a year.

He also talked about crime.

"We'll be going after the illegal guns in the state," said Burris.

Statewide crime statistics are down, but there were 6,000 murders from 1992 through 1996. "One murder is one murder too many," he said.

Burris wants to create a state police strike force in conjunction with local law enforcement to go after illegal guns.

"We have to keep the assault-type weapons out of the hands of gang members," said Burris. "And we have to keep the handguns away from gangs."

Although originally from Centralia in Southern Illinois, Burris has a strong base among black voters in Chicago. He said his campaign strategy envisions drawing votes from every corner of the state.

Burris ran an independent race for Chicago mayor against Democrat Richard M. Daley in 1995. "I was drafted by the people to run, and I'm not sorry that I did run," he said. "I have political experience, and I have the vision to move Illinois into the 21st century."

Burris said Illinois has been stagnant under Edgar.