Former Gov. Jim Edgar reportedly turns down top spot in Illinoi

CHICAGO -- Former Gov. Jim Edgar reportedly has turned down an offer to become the chairman of the state Republican Party.

Edgar, who still is popular, has decided not to replace Lee Daniels as the new GOP leader, according to the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times' Saturday editions. Both papers cited unnamed sources.

Daniels, who also is the Illinois House Republican leader, has said he would step down from his position as chairman on July 8 at a special meeting of the Republican State Central Committee. He is accused of having his legislative staff do campaign work on state time, but has denied any personal wrongdoing. The U.S. attorney's office is reviewing the allegations.

Attorney General Jim Ryan's spokesman Dan Curry declined to comment Saturday on who would replace Daniels, but said he expected an announcement to be made before Monday.

Spokesmen for Edgar did not immediately return calls to The Associated Press.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan has said he wanted Edgar to replace Daniels, and other Republicans hoped Edgar would take the job to promote an image of integrity and honesty.

Republicans have been worried about the fall election because of the controversy surrounding Gov. George Ryan, who announced last summer he would not seek a second term. Federal prosecutors continue to go after former secretary of state employees who allegedly did political work on state time while Ryan ran the office.

Ryan has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

Dallas Ingemunson, vice chairman of the state GOP, told the Sun-Times he does not blame Edgar for not accepting the position.

"If I were Jim Edgar, why would he want to get into this mess?" Ingemunson said. "It is probably not the kind of thing he needs. It would have been a great thing for us."