Millner won’t run again

SPRINGFIELD — State Sen. John Millner said Friday that he won’t run for re-election in 2012, choosing to care for his cancer-stricken wife instead of taking on a tough campaign next year.

Millner, a Carol Stream Republican has served in the Senate since 2005, and spent two years in the Illinois House before that.

Previously, he was Elmhurst’s police chief.

“I would rather spend the time I would be politicking with my wife,” Millner said.

For now, he said, he plans to serve the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2013.

“I’m grateful I had the opportunity to serve,” he said.

Because of his law enforcement background, Millner is known in the Senate for carrying law-and-order themed legislation. This year, he was the Senate sponsor of a proposal that would create a registry for first-degree murderers who get out of prison. It was inspired by the 1998 murder of Batavia’s Andrea Will.

Millner is also known for being not particularly partisan, sometimes more willing than most to reach out and work with Democrats.

“I thrive on that,” he said. “I like working with people.”

And he does a lot of his work behind the scenes.

“You don’t hear much from me,” he said.

He said he plans to endorse Rep. Michael Connelly, a Lisle Republican, in the 2012 race.

But Millner said he wanted to make the announcement he wasn’t running early enough that other interested candidates had a chance to make bids, too.