Jul 7, 2009 6:22 pm US/Central
Lake County Coroner Won't Run For Re-Election
LAKE COUNTY, Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller, saying he "underestimated how much politics are involved in this office," said Monday he will not seek re-election in 2012, but will serve out the remainder of his term.
"This was not an easy decision, but one made after considerable deliberation," Keller, the county's first Democratic coroner, said of his early-bird announcement.
"I look forward to serving Lake County through November 2012 and have several initiatives and programs planned to continue my pledge to forestall death as the coroner," the Waukegan resident said. "For example, we will be co-sponsoring a suicide prevention conference for counseling providers in the fall and are working to expand the availability of child safety seat checks in association with Safe Kids Chicago."
Keller said the timing of his announcement was because of planning to start fund-raising and preparing to run for re-election. "I just wanted to concentrate on the job and what I want to do with the job," he said, noting he is "really not well suited for the politics involved." He said he has no interest in another political office.
He was re-elected to a second four-year term in November, defeating Republican challenger Dr. Michael Oster of Gurnee by a 58 to 42 percent margin.
Keller, a former emergency room physician, founded the Health Reach Clinic in Waukegan. He was first elected in 2004, defeating incumbent Republican Coroner Jim Wipper.
"I look forward to returning to community service, community organizing and community healing," Keller said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Celebrity Watcher: Real Or Fake?
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
