Jim Edgar passes: Former Illinois governor dies at 79 from pancreatic cancer; diagnosed earlier this year

Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar, a two-term Republican credited with guiding the state toward greater financial stability in the 1990s, died Sunday at the age of 79.Edgar passed away from complications related to his treatment for pancreatic cancer, which he publicly disclosed earlier this year.“We are deeply grateful for the love, support and kindness so many have shown to Jim and our family over these last several months,” his family said in a statement.Born in small-town Oklahoma, Edgar began his political career as a state legislator and later served as Illinois secretary of state for a decade. He was elected governor in 1990, a moderate Republican who easily won reelection, including in heavily Democratic Cook County, home to Chicago.At the time Edgar took office, Illinois faced hundreds of millions in debt and was paying bills months late. Amid a recession, he pushed legislators to cut the state budget, including layoffs and reductions in popular programs. He also fulfilled a campaign promise by making a temporary income tax surcharge permanent, providing a stable source of funding for public schools, reported AP.Edgar remained active as a party statesman and adviser, though he grew uneasy with the Republican Party’s shift to the right. He was among high-profile Republicans who did not support Donald Trump’s presidency, joining a campaign supporting Kamala Harris’s 2020 presidential bid called “Republicans for Harris.”In 1997, Edgar surprised many by announcing he would not seek a third term, despite his popularity. Republicans tried to draft him for other offices, including the US senate and another gubernatorial bid, but he declined.After leaving office, Edgar continued teaching and served as president emeritus of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, among other roles.Illinois governer JB Pritzker announced that state flags would fly at half-staff in Edgar’s honor.“Now more than ever, we should channel that spirit and resolve to live as Governor Edgar did: with honesty, integrity, and an enduring respect for all,” Pritzker said, as quoted by AP. “He will live on in the incalculable number of lives he touched and in the stronger institutions he helped build.”Edgar’s relatives said details on funeral plans would be announced in the coming days.