Walsh Not Seeking Re-Election After 50 Years As Public Servant

Will County Executive Larry Walsh may have run his last political campaign but his campaign to fight cancer is strong. Walsh called a news conference on Thursday afternoon to announce that his prostate cancer had returned with a vengeance.

Walsh held a press conference Thursday afternoon announcing that he would not be running for reelection in 2020. An emotional speech from the Will County Board Room he said many times how “blessed” he has been.

Walsh has held the position of County Executive for the past 16 years and has overseen such projects as the new Will County Safety Complex and the construction of the new Will County Courthouse.

Walsh, 71, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014 and has been battling the disease off and on for the last 5 years but says in the last couple months it has returned with a vengeance and has to have more, stronger chemotherapy.

He said that going back for chemo it was a “no brainer not running.” He plans on focusing on his battle with cancer and spending time with his wife of 50 years Irene, his 6 kids and 20 grandchildren.  The Will County Board gave Walsh a standing ovation.