Updated 3:22 p.m. with information from press conference.
The man who has headed the Illinois National Guard for the past five years is stepping down from that post to consider running as a Democrat for an open congressional seat.
Adjutant General William Enyart submitted his resignation Thursday and was replaced by Gov. Pat Quinn for the time being by Maj. Gen. Dennis Celletti. Celletti is the assistant adjutant general for the Army.
Blog Capitolfax has posted Enyart's full resignation letter here.
Sixty-two-year-old Enyart called his resignation a necessary precursor to possibly running for the 12th Congressional District seat that Democrat Jerry Costello is vacating after this term.
Enyart has not previously run for public office.
Democrats are seeking to fill a 12th district void left on the ballot by nominee Brad Harriman. Harriman dropped out of the race against Republican Jason Plummer, citing a worsening but not life-threatening neurological condition.
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