Senate president, Blago ally Jones retiring this fall

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr. will announce this afternoon he will retire from the Illinois General Assembly, a move that's likely to touch off a political free-for-all in finding a replacement.

A high-ranking Democratic official who asked not to be identified confirmed for the Daily Herald Jones' pending retirement. He is expected to serve out his term.

Jones, 72, a Chicago Democrat, has been a member of the Illinois General Assembly since 1973. After suffering in the political minority throughout the 1990s, Jones and the Senate Democrats swept back control of the Illinois Senate in the 2002 elections.

He's since expanded on his majority and leaving Republicans teetering on irrelevance in the Illinois Senate.

But the departure of Jones strong-arm leadership is likely to touch off a fierce behind-the-scenes scramble for power among follow Democrats seeking to claim the Senate presidency.

Early frontrunners include:

• Waukegan Democrat Terry Link

• Chicago Democrat John Cullerton

• Chicago Democrat Rickey Hendon

• Belleville Democrat James Clayborne

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Related documents</h2> <ul class="morePdf"> <li><a href="/pdf/jones_announce.pdf">Jones' announcement </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>