Aug 18, 2008 6:11 pm US/Central
State Senate Pres. Emil Jones Says He'll Retire
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, Jr. says he won't seek re-election in November.
Jones' office released a statement Monday afternoon in which the 35-year legislative veteran thanked colleagues and constituents but didn't say why he was retiring.
Jones played a key role in helping Barack Obama get to the U.S. Senate. But Monday, Jones resigned as a candidate for re-election. He wants to hand his South Side seat to his son.
As his protégé, Obama's presidential campaign has been the emotional capstone to Jones's long career. After 36 years in public office, one-time city inspector Jones said he would step down next January as state senate president.
"I'm saddened by it because I had the great pleasure of serving for 16 years in the Illinois General Assembly and Emil Jones is one of the first people I got a chance to meet," said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. "He wrapped his arms around me, he showed me the ropes."
As CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, Jones's departure will be a blow to Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The nearly 73-year old Jones is the closest powerful legislative ally of Gov. Blagojevich.
In a statement, the governor said, "The accomplishments I am most proud of would not have happened without Emil Jones."
Many hope the next senate president will end the long legislative stalemate that has paralyzed the state capitol.
"I'm sure Speaker Madigan has an interest in who the next senate president is going to be as well, which can only make for big fireworks coming out of Springfield," said Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL).
Among dozens of his family members and friends on the state payroll is Jones's son, Emil Jones III, a $59,436-a-year senior account manager for the Blagojevich administration.
Jones wants his son to take his seat. He carefully timed Monday's resignation to make it virtually impossible for any other candidate to emerge. The deadline for Democratic leaders to pick a replacement is just a few days away.
Obama, in a statement, said, "Senator Jones has been a passionate advocate who has fought for working families and the underprivileged for more than three decades."
"His health is still fine; his brain is as sharp as ever, but it's time to go on and allow someone else to carry the mantle in the Democratic senate," said State Sen. Ricky Hendon (D-Chicago).
Hendon is one of at least seven state senators campaigning behind the scenes to replace Jones as president.
As for Jones, he has long joked he would like Obama, if elected president, to appoint him Ambassador of Ireland.
But in all seriousness, it is likely that he could get a federal appointment if Obama's presidential bid is successful.
CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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