POSHARD PLANS TO RUN FOR ONE MORE TERM

Glenn Poshard wants one more term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"If I am elected to a fifth term, it will be my final term in Congress," said Poshard, D-Marion, Ill., during a recent Marion rally.

Poshard was not available for comment Thursday, but Dave Strickland of the congressman's press office in Washington said it was no secret that Poshard may be looking for his final term.

"The congressman has said all along that he did not want to become a career congressman," said Strickland. "During his first run for Congress in 1988, he said that if voters wanted him for five terms he would stay 10 years before moving on to something else."

Poshard has plans to return to work as an educator and hopes to start a mission to help homeless and abused children, said Strickland.

Poshard, a former school administrator, served in the Illinois legislature before being elected to the House following the retirement of Democrat Ken Gray in 1988.

During his first two terms, Poshard represented the 21st District, which included portions of Alexander, Pulaski and Union counties in Southern Illinois. But midway in his second term, a new congressional map reduced Illinois' districts from 22 to 20, leaving Poshard a man without a district.

When the 21st was eliminated, it divided Poshard's district three ways and left the then Carterville Democrat two choices if he was to stay in politics: run against Larry Bruce in the 19th District or a run against Jerry Costello in the 12th District.

Poshard opted for the 19th, moved his residence to Marion, and defeated Bruce. Poshard is currently in the middle of his fourth term in office.