News October 2005

Jim Edgar closed the door on public office

After moderating a discussion on the future of the state for Illinois Issues' 30th anniversary luncheon, former Gov. Jim Edgar announced he will not run for governor or any future public office.

Edgar, who serves on the magazine's advisory board, met with reporters shortly after the luncheon at the Chicago Union League Club on Friday, September 30. 

The Republican said he had spent the previous three months consulting with former staffers and his wife Brenda. Concern over the state's fiscal condition and the leadership of Democrat Gov. Rod Blagojevich fueled a sense of obligation, Edgar said. But he decided he wasn't the only Republican capable of defeating the incumbent.

Here is an excerpt of Edgar's announcement:

"After a lot of thought, a lot of anguish, we've decided I will not be a candidate for governor. ... There have been, literally, thousands of people who have written us, stopped us on the street asking us [to run]. That's what makes this very difficult. To those people, I want to thank them. Many of them wanted a new direction for the state.

"One of the reasons I can make this decision [is] I'm convinced that the result of recent news stories, developments, happenings, poll numbers I've seen that someone else can be elected governor of the state of Illinois, being a new governor other than Jim Edgar. And I will do what I can to see that happen. ...

"I've done this before and I thought I was getting better at this — saying 'No.' And one of the reasons is, in 1997 and back in 2003 when I said 'No,' the question was always asked, 'Is this never?' And I always said, 'I never say never.'

"Today I say never. This is it."

Edgar served two terms as governor, from 1991 to 1999. He also served as Illinois secretary of state (1981-1991) and as a state representative from Charleston (1977-1979).

Pat Guinane
Illinois Issues October 3, 2005

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