The man who last week stepped down after five years heading the Illinois National Guard says he's running for a southern Illinois congressional seat as a Democrat.
Sixty-two-year-old William Enyart from Belleville is seeking to replace Brad Harriman on the 12th Congressional District ballot in November. Harriman abruptly quit the race last month, citing medical reasons.
The seat has been in hands of Democrats since World War II. It's being vacated by Rep. Jerry Costello, who announced last October he won't seek another term.
As the Illinois National Guard's adjutant general, Enyart commanded more than 13,000 members of the Army and Air National Guards and served as chief military adviser to the governor.
He has never held elected public office.
Democratic hopefuls for the seat have until Friday to apply.
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