Statement from IEA President Al Llorens on former governor Jim Edgar’s death

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Education Association (IEA) mourns the passing of former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar over the weekend.

Edgar, a Republican from downstate Charleston, was the IEA-recommended candidate for governor over Neil Hartigan, a Democrat, in 1990. Edgar said after winning, "It was a close election, and IEA helped put me over the top."

The following statement can be attributed to IEA President Al Llorens:

"Jim Edgar was a true statesman who worked with both sides of the aisle, helped unions and supported public education. Edgar also served as Secretary of State under former Gov. Jim Thompson, who signed Illinois' Collective Bargaining Act. He swore in IEA members to the Teachers' Retirement System Board of Trustees, attended IEA's Lobby Days and Summer Leadership Academy. We thank Gov. Edgar for his service to this state and for the lasting legacy he helped build in the Edgar Fellows Program, which identifies young leaders and helps them build characteristics of leadership that cross all socioeconomic lines."

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state's largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.