Fitzgerald not running for reelection in 2004

Republican Party scrambling for a candidate to run in crucial state election

U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, R-Ill., announced that he will not seek re-election next year.

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At a press conference Tuesday, Fitzgerald, a banking heir from Inverness, said he would not run for re-election because of concerns about time away from his family as well as the personal costs of another campaign.

“This is a race in a heavily Democratic state that for a Republican candidate will need full-time devotion in order to win,” Fitzgerald said at a Tuesday press conference.

He said his job requires him to be away from his family too often, but did recently make it to a Little League game in which his 10-year-old son hit a home run.

“I need to be there for more moments like that in my son Jake’s life,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald, 42, was also concerned about the financial burden that would be created as he tried to raise the millions of dollars needed for a re-election campaign and was hesitant in spending more money on a second term. He spent $11.5 million in his successful 1998 bid in which he defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, D-Ill.

Fitzgerald served six years in the Illinois Senate before his election to the U.S. Senate in 1998.

Because of Fitzgerald’s decision to not run for re-election, the Illinois Republican Party is now left searching for a new candidate to run in the 2004 election. Several names have already been thrown out as potential contenders in the race to keep the open spot for the Republicans giving them an 51-48 edge in the U.S. Senate.

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According to the Chicago Tribune, several GOP candidates are interested in running, including, Sen. Patrick O’Malley of Palos Park, DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom and former Attorney General Jim Ryan.

Tom Margolis, who served as the downstate director for Ryan’s office during his term as attorney general, said it is too soon to say for sure whether Ryan will run.

“It’s probably a little premature to say for sure, but there has been talk about it,” Margolis said.

On the heels of Fitzgerald’s anticipated announcement, Gerry Chico, former president of Chicago public schools, filed with the Federal Election Commission showing that he raised more than $1.7 million to allow him to compete for the Democratic nomination for the Illinois seat in the Senate.

Michael Golden, spokesman for Chico’s campaign said Chico thinks Illinois can do better and with his experience he can point Illinois in the right direction.

“With his experience as president of the Chicago Public Schools he can accomplish more meaningful results.”

Chico filed with the FEC in December with just more than $1 million, which was more money than any other senator challenger in the nation.

Chico was appointed president of the Chicago Public Schools in 1995 and re-appointed in 1999 by Mayor Richard Daley.

Chico said in a press release Tuesday he wants the Senate seat to be filled with someone who can get things done.

“Regardless of whether or not Fitzgerald runs for re-election, this will be an expensive and hard fought campaign,” Chico said.

Reporter Kristina Dailing can be reached at [email protected]