State Sen. Garrett won't run, but others eye Kirk's Congressional seat

Hours after Mark Kirk announced he's running for Senate, a state lawmaker expected to make a bid for Kirk's congressional seat said she's staying put.

"I'm not going to run for Congress," said state Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat.

Earlier this month, Garrett told the Daily Herald said she was giving a House bid "serious thought" but was waiting for Kirk to formally announce his intentions before making up her own mind.

On Monday, however, Garrett said she decided she made a commitment to working on the state's budget and reforming state politics when she was re-elected last year.

"Given the current financial problems the state is addressing, I felt it was more important for me to continue by commitment as a state senator," she said.

Garret also felt she couldn't simultaneously be a full-time legislator and a congressional candidate.

Although the lure of Washington, D.C., was appealing, "I really love my job," Garrett said.

Garrett's current term ends in 2012. She didn't rule out a congressional campaign then.

Garrett's withdrawal from consideration leaves Democratic state Sen. Michael Bond of Grayslake as the most prominent candidate from either party in the race for Kirk's 10th House seat.

Although the Republican and Democratic primary ballots are expected to fill up, only two other candidates have announced plans to run so far: Republican Patricia Bird of Mount Prospect and Democrat Elliott Richardson of Highland Park.

Two-time Democratic candidate Dan Seals of Wilmette has expressed interest in running, too. Republican state Rep. Elizabeth Coulson of Glenview also is a possible candidate, as is Highland Park City Councilman Jim Kirsch, a Democrat.