Dec 13, 2008 5:05 pm US/Central
Former Politician Admits Wanting IL Senate Seat
Roland Burris and Supporters Speak Out on Wanting President-Elect Barack Obama's Vacant Senate Seat
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Roland Burris, a former attorney general, expressed his desire to fill president-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.
CBS
There may be a hornet's nest surrounding Obama's vacant Senate sea, but a ground-breaking Illinois politician is actively campaigning for it this weekend. As CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports, this man is resurfacing after staying out of the public eye for years.
Roland Burris was surrounded by supporters Saturday – supporters who are backing the former Illinois politician to fill the U.S. Senate seat, once occupied by President-Elect Barack Obama.
"Many of these are really my friends; I mean, I know them," Burris said."I am more than happy and willing and able to come to the call of my friend and to try to be able to bring some sanity and help to the people of this state and the people of America, in the United States Senate."
Burris has held many positions in state government. In the 1970s, he was the director of the Department of Central Management Services. He then became the first African-American elected comptroller in 1983. He became attorney general in 1991.
Burris was defeated by Paul Simon when running for the U.S. Senate in 1984. He ran for governor in 2004. Among those speaking on Burris' behalf, was his choice for Lt. Governor, former running mate, Sheila Smith.
"He will be an unshakeable ally of the president-elect in addressing these toughest of times," Smith said.
Burris shared his thoughts about the allegation of Gov. Blagojevich trying to sell the Senate seat to the highest bidder.
"The evidence that's been presented is purely appalling," he said. "Should that come out to be the case of what our governor was attempting to do, I find it just reprehensible."
The former Illinois Attorney General also spoke about Lisa Madigan calling for the Illinois Supreme Court to remove Gov. Blagojevich from office.
"I certainly applaud her actions," Burris said. "Illinois is too important to have a chief executive that is incapacitated and the state will have problems functioning."
Burris says if chosen, he only wants to serve the remainder of Obama's term, which is two years. He doesn't plan to campaign and fundraise to seek another six years in that office.
"I would go in there hitting the ground running, with an agenda for Illinois, with an agenda for Illinois, with an agenda that the president-elect wants carried out across America, and that's what I would be working on," Burris said.
The Senate seat hopeful says with all the work he's done in Illinois, being Senator would be a continuation of his commitment, to the Land of Lincoln.
Right now, Burris is a senior counsel at a law firm and heads a political consulting firm. I
n 2002, Burris ran against Blagojevich in the Democratic primary for governor.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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