Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison announced Thursday he would not run for re-election next year.
Morrison, the only Republican on the 17-person board, said, “After thoughtful consideration, prayerful discernment, and many discussions with my family and those closest to me, I have decided that I will not seek re-election as Cook County Commissioner.
“When I first ran for office, I did so with a clear purpose: to be a voice for limited government, lower taxes, and responsible spending. Over the past decade, I’ve worked to uphold those principles by making sound financial decisions that have helped put Cook County on a more stable and fiscally responsible path, even as the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago have struggled with deep structural challenges.
“I never viewed public office as a career. I had no ambition to climb the political ladder to Springfield or Washington, D.C. My goal was always to serve our citizens with professionalism, respect, honor, and integrity, make a difference where I could, and then step aside. Term limits have long been a core belief of mine, and to be candid, I wrestled with this decision for several months. The responsibility of the office and the trust placed in me made it difficult to step away, but in the end, staying true to my principles of term limits mattered most. I firmly believe that public service should be a season of contribution, not a lifetime occupation, and it is important that I lead by example.
“I am proud that my tenure has produced real, measurable benefits for the residents of Cook County, from strengthening our fiscal foundation, to protecting taxpayers from unnecessary burdens, to championing public safety and supporting our law enforcement heroes, to advancing accountability and transparency across county government. These accomplishments reflect the same values that brought me into public service: disciplined stewardship, responsible budgeting, and putting the interests of everyday residents first.
“Over these 10 years, I have often placed my own business interests on hold in order to dedicate myself fully to public service and to the residents of the 17th District, and I do not regret that.
“However, Cook County, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois are now firmly governed by a one-party supermajority whose policy direction and ideological priorities diverge sharply from my own deeply held personal, ethical, and spiritual convictions. I respect that many of my colleagues are good-hearted individuals who genuinely believe in their approach to governing, but those approaches often stand in conflict with the principles that brought me into public service. While I have worked vigorously to bring balance, transparency, and accountability, I also recognize the limits of what one voice can realistically achieve in a system so overwhelmingly weighted to one side.
“Remaining true to the values and principles that guided me into public service, I have chosen to make a clean and honorable break.
“I leave proud of what we’ve accomplished, confident in the integrity of my efforts, and deeply grateful to the citizens who entrusted me with their voice and their vote. Public service has been an honor.”
Morrison, of Palos Park, was appointed to his seat in July 2015, to complete the expiring term of Elizabeth Ann Doody Gorman, who had resigned to take a job in the private sector. He was elected to a full term in 2018, and re-elected in 2022.
In April 2016, Morrison was elected as chairman of the Cook County Republican Party. He resigned in April, and was replaced by the previous chairman, Aaron Del Mar, who is now running for lieutenant governor as Darren Bailey’s running mate.
He was likely facing a primary challenge from Gorman in the March Republican primary.
He also is the defendant in a personal injury civil case and two cases involving Asha Gant. In a civil case, he is charged with slander/libel and his company is charged in a criminal sexual assault case.