Mr. Claypool is not going to Washington.
Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool told the Sun-Times today he has decided not to run for Congress to replace Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who will leave office to become President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff.
"It was tempting and something I gave a lot of thought," Claypool said. "It would be an exciting time to be in Congress and support the president-elect's agenda and work with people I know and have a long history with in a time of national crisis.
"But I've spent six years working hard to reform county government -- I think I can make a bigger difference locally than nationally."
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