Rep. Froehlich won't run for re-election

Democratic state Rep. Paul Froehlich of Schaumburg said Friday he won't run for re-election next year.

Implying that another political opportunity may present itself either before or after the end of his current fourth term, Froehlich said he wanted to make his decision public before the start of the primary petition period on Aug. 4.

"I don't have an announcement yet about where I will be going, but I have other opportunities," Froehlich said. "I don't anticipate going into lobbying as some legislators do."

Though Froehlich isn't certain about the timing of this new opportunity, he said he's treating his current job as if it's his until January 2011.

"Some things are beyond my control, but I intend to continue serving," he said.

If Froehlich were to step down before the end of his term, it would be up to Schaumburg Township Democratic Committeeman Rocco Terranova to appoint a successor.

Terranova could not be reached for comment Friday.

Froehlich created waves both locally and in Springfield in 2007 when he switched parties from Republican to Democrat. But he survived the political fallout to win re-election last year.

Froehlich has been in elective office for 20 years and been on the ballot 12 times. The other offices he's held include Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 school board member, Schaumburg Township assessor and Schaumburg Township Republican committeeman.

During his four terms in Springfield, the legislative and budgeting process has become ever more thorny, but he denied he was giving up in disgust.

"There is disappointment that we haven't got more done, but that's not the reason why I've decided not to run again," he said.

Froehlich's house district, the 56th, includes parts of Schaumburg, Roselle, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Elk Grove Village and Bloomingdale.

Current Schaumburg Township Assessor John Lawson recently announced his intention to run for Froehlich's house seat as a Republican.

While Froehlich doesn't consider party affiliation to be something that necessarily produces a good candidate or a bad candidate, he said that at this point he feels more likely to support a Democrat as his successor.