"Senate Candidate Number 5" Not Running for Mayor

By Kevin Robinson in News on Oct 26, 2010 1:00PM

File this one under "No Surprise:" Jesse Jackson, Jr. announced late yesterday that he will not be seeking the mayor's office next year. “I will continue to work hard on behalf of the people of my district, as I have for the past 15 years, to bring federal resources to Chicago and the South Suburbs for transportation, health care, education and economic development projects,” Jackson said in a statement released to the Tribune. “I will continue to work toward the construction of the Abraham Lincoln National Airport and the 15,000 jobs it will create by the time it opens for business.”

Jackson, once considered a contender for Mayor, has been rocked by recent allegations of his involvement in former governor Rod Blagojevich's corruption scandal, as well as the revelation that he was involved in a personal relationship with a female "social acquaintance" that he knew in Washington, D.C. Jackson has not been charged with any wrongdoing, and he's apologized to supporters for the relationship. Citing "many friends and colleagues who I deeply respect that may vie to be chief executive of the city, all of whom are very worthy and very capable of being the next mayor," he says that he will not make an endorsement in the upcoming mayoral race. The election will be held in February.