Government Inspector General to Run for Senate

The top watchdog in Chicago city government is quitting to run for the U.S. Senate.

The Chicago Inspector General's Office said Wednesday that David Hoffman had resigned to run for President Barack Obama's old Senate seat.

Democrat Roland Burris currently holds the seat but isn't running for a full term.

Hoffman will join a Democratic primary field that already includes state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson has said she plans to run too, but she won't formally announce her candidacy until next month. Hoffman has been in the spotlight recently. He criticized Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's deal to lease city parking meters. And he served on a commission Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn appointed to recommend ways to clean up state government in the wake of the scandals surrounding former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.