Senator: Illinois Senate President Jones retiring

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - The president of the Illinois Senate, a product of Chicago's political machine and one of Barack Obama's first political mentors, is retiring, a high-ranking state senator said Monday.

Sen. Emil Jones, a Democrat about to turn 73, plans to step down after November's legislative veto session, said Sen. Rickey Hendon of Chicago. Hendon said Jones isn't retiring because of health problems but because after more than 30 years in the Legislature, he is ready to move on.

Hendon said Jones told him of his decision during a phone call Sunday night.

Jones' office did not return multiple messages seeking comment Monday.

Jones' decision leaves a power vacuum in a state marked by discord among its Democratic leaders and means unpopular Gov. Rod Blagojevich is losing one of his most important political allies.

It also means the state is losing one of its most powerful black politicians and a leading advocate for education reform.

It's Jones' relationship with another Illinois Democrat that might be the most politically important.

Jones had a big hand in Obama's 2004 U.S. Senate win by introducing the then little-known Obama to the right people and letting him handle some important legislation to help raise his political profile.

Jones is up for re-election this fall, before the Legislature's veto session. It's not clear whether he will withdraw from the race or stay on the ballot and then be replaced after the election.

The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times report Jones planned an announcement as early as Monday.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080818/ap_on_re_us/illinois_senate [link]