Cook County Clerk David Orr, on June 21, announced that he will not seek re-election in 2018.
In a statement, Orr, who has been County Clerk since December 1990, called the decision "a deeply personal choice that I have tussled with for some time because I care so much about the office, politics and the people in the office. I am very tempted to run again, but realistically, since the next election is not until November 2018, I cannot make the commitment that I would serve another four-year term that would not end until December 2022."
Before filling the county clerk post, Orr was the 49th Ward alderman. After the 1987 death of Mayor Harold Washington, he was acting mayor of Chicago for a week.
Orr was also inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Famenow the Chicago LGBT Hall of Famein 2012 and has been a fervent supporter of LGBT rights, championing both the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance and the Illinois civil-unions law, among other causes.
While marriage equality was being litigated in Illinois, Orr, in conjunction with then-State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, refused to defend his office legally when it was challenged by gay and lesbian couples seeking marriage licenses. He also had his staff hastily prepare paperwork and computers when those couples were subsequently granted marriage rights by a federal judge, months ahead of when the state's marriage equality was already scheduled to take effect.
In his June 21 statement, Orr pledged to remain active in progressive politics.
"In the years to come, I will continue to speak out about the state of our democracy," he said. "Sixty years ago, 73 percent of Americans trusted government to do what's right most of the time. Today, Pew reports that number is 19 percent. Government's priority must be how well it serves the needs of ordinary people, and not just the powerful and wealthy. I ensure you that I will not stop talking about these issues."