St. Rep. Black Confirms He Will Not Run in 2010

State Representative Bill Black says he will not seek another term in the Illinois House. The Danville Republican says he's making the announcement now, to give potential candidates time to prepare for the Illinois primary in February.

Black is longtime member of the Republican leadership team in the Illinois House. He's a Deputy Republican leader in the chamber, and GOP spokesman for the House Rules Committee. But he says he's gotten the most satisfaction as a legislator out of the bread-and-butter accomplishments that may seem mundane --- but are important to many people in the 104th House District.

"Are the state routes paved, are the bridges in good shape? Have we been able to upgrade water and sewer projects and school construction?" says Black. "And in all of those, I think we've been reasonably successful. I haven't gotten everything done that I've wanted to do. But I can look anybody in the eye, and say, I've tried. I've tried my very best."

Black first announced his retirement two years ago, but changed his mind and won re-election in 2008, after the Republican nominee for his seat, Scott Eisenhauer, withdrew. Black says that was a fluke, and he's confident that a strong Republican candidate will stay in the race for 2010.

Meanwhile, Black says he will resign his House seat early --- if Governor Quinn decides to appoint him to serve on the University Of Illinois Board Of Trustees. Black is a U of I alumnus, and says serving as a trustee would provide "a different set of challenges" for him.