CHICAGO, Ill. – Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is ready to call it a career.
At 88, and after changing his mind about retiring a term ago, White has been the longest-serving Secretary of State in history.
“I said to Alexi Giannoulias the other day, ‘You know what you have to do when you come in to the Secretary of State’s Office on the first day?’ He said, ‘What is it?’ I said, ‘Just sit back and let things happen around you, because everything is in place for you to be successful,’” said White, to WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show.”
Giannoulias defeated State Representative Dan Brady of Bloomington in the November election, though Brady has agreed to serve on Giannoulias’ transition team. White had originally endorsed Giannoulias’ primary opponent, Anna Valencia.
White says he’s proud of everything that his department has accomplished in his time in office. But, there’s something White says he’s proud of more.
“I’m really proud of the fact that we have some individuals who have not only taken over a job, they’ve taken over the responsibility that goes with it,” said White. “They are at their duty station every day like I am, discharge their duties in a manner which the people can be proud. I’m very proud of the fact that we are turning over a well-run organization to (Giannoulias).”
As for what White will do in retirement, he says he’s going to continue to work with his “Jesse White Tumblers.”
