Illinois Secretary of State says he won't seek another term
Flickr | Daniel X. O'Neil
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Longtime Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White says he won't seek another term in office.
He's already the longest-serving secretary of state in Illinois, a milestone he passed last year. He first won election in 1998, winning several contests for re-election by large margins. That included a fifth term in November over Republican Mike Webster.
The 81-year-old announced the news to Democrats on Thursday at the Illinois State Fair.
White has said before that he won't seek re-election, but reversed course. In 2011 he said was winding down but then sought re-election.
This time White says, "This is it."
In Illinois, the secretary of state's office oversees driver licensing and maintains state records.
White still performs with his Jesse White Tumbling Team, an organization he founded decades ago.