By AP
Belleville, IL – Longtime southern Illinois Congressman Jerry Costello says he won't run again because he plans to pursue other interests.
The 62-year-old Belleville democrat Tuesday announced he won't seek re-election next year.
Costello has been in office since August 1988, when he was picked to fill the term of the late U.S. Representative Melvin Price.
Costello serves in the 12th district, which includes Carbondale, Belleville, East St. Louis and Alton.
In a statement, Costello said since being elected he wouldn't be a career Congressman. He says he now has other unspecified interests to pursue.
Southern Illinois Congressman John Shimkus calls Costello's decision a ``great loss for southern Illinois'' as well as a personal loss.
Shimkus says he considers Costello one of his closest friends, despite the fact that they are from different political parties.
The republican also praised Costello for working hard to serve the people in his district.
Both of Illinois' U.S. Senators are praising U.S. Representative Jerry Costello for his service in Congress.
Senator Dick Durbin calls Costello ``the most effective advocate for his district'' he has ever worked with in Congress. Durbin credits Costello for his role in saving Scott Air Force Base from closure.
Senator Mark Kirk says he'll miss Costello greatly. Kirk says Costello is ``a dear friend and a respected transportation expert.''
The head of the Illinois Republican Party is pleased that Costello has decided against running for another term in Congress.
Republican Pat Brady says replacing Costello with a GOP candidate will be one of his party's top priorities. Brady says the district has been trending republican for several years, and he's buoyed by recent GOP victories in Illinois Congressional and state Senate races.
But democrats are waving off such republican optimism.
Steve Israel is head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He says it is a strong democratic district and his party is looking forward to electing a democrat in the next election.
