CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Former U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced Tuesday he has decided not to run for mayor against the incumbent, Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
“After a lot of thought, I have decided I will not be running for mayor but will work with anyone serious about making our city safer,” Duncan was quoted as saying in a statement.
“I am exactly where I need to be, doing the work I love. I have never been part of a more courageous and committed team. The best way I can serve our city is to stay laser-focused on reducing gun violence and stay engaged at our sites on the streets and in the lives of our participants.”
Earlier this year, Duncan had told the Sun-Times he was being urged to run for mayor by business leaders concerned about Chicago’s future and at that time, he cracked the door open to answering the call.
Duncan also had told reporters in late January he was “absolutely thinking about” challenging Lightfoot in 2023.
Before serving in the Obama administration as education secretary, Duncan had been CEO of Chicago Public Schools. Upon returning to Chicago, he co-founded the anti-violence group Chicago CRED.
Check back for details on this developing story.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire & Chicago Sun-Times 2022. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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