"State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is pushing a plan for the legislature to formally congratulate President-elect Barack Obama with a resolution that recognizes the "indelible mark" Obama has left on Illinois and throughout the world," Adriana Colindres reports in the State Journal-Register.
"It shows the respect that the General Assembly has for his service," Giannoulias said. "Hopefully, it'll inspire other people to maybe run for office."
The proposed legislative resolution isn't yet in final form, but Giannoulias said he'd like for it to come up for consideration this week in the Illinois Senate, where Obama served from 1997-2004. The treasurer, a Democrat like Obama, also hopes the House will take up the resolution when it returns to the state Capitol next week.
Giannoulias, who referred to Obama as his "mentor," has not been mentioned as likely candidate to follow Obama to Washington. Nevertheless, he was asked about the prospect of serving in the new administration:
"I really do love being state treasurer. Unless the president-elect really needs me, I plan on staying in the state treasurer's office."
"It shows the respect that the General Assembly has for his service," Giannoulias said. "Hopefully, it'll inspire other people to maybe run for office."
The proposed legislative resolution isn't yet in final form, but Giannoulias said he'd like for it to come up for consideration this week in the Illinois Senate, where Obama served from 1997-2004. The treasurer, a Democrat like Obama, also hopes the House will take up the resolution when it returns to the state Capitol next week.
Giannoulias, who referred to Obama as his "mentor," has not been mentioned as likely candidate to follow Obama to Washington. Nevertheless, he was asked about the prospect of serving in the new administration:
"I really do love being state treasurer. Unless the president-elect really needs me, I plan on staying in the state treasurer's office."
