Despite his role in helping lead the charge for a special election to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat, DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett said he will not run for the post.

Birkett and several DuPage area GOP legislators are pushing for a special election in the wake of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s arrest last week on charges alleging he attempted to sell the post. Some Democratic lawmakers have expressed hesitation about holding a special election because of the cost and the opportunity it would provide for Republicans to win the seat.

“Regardless of the cost that might be associated with (a special election), it will be the selection of the people of the state of Illinois, not the will of one person,” Birkett said.

The Illinois General Assembly went into special session Monday to deal with the controversy, and House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-22nd District, of Chicago convened a panel to begin an impeachment investigation.

The House was also expected to consider legislation to establish a special election, but Madigan sent members home before addressing the issue, saying it lacked support from Democrats.

“I expected some divisions within the Democratic caucus on this issue, and that’s exactly what happened,” Madigan said.

Birkett joined Illinois GOP Chairman Andy McKenna Sunday in announcing a television, Internet and telephone campaign urging voters to support a special election.

Illinois law gives the governor the power to fill vacant Senate seats. But after Blagojevich’s arrest on federal corruption charges, leaders from both parties called into question his ability to do so.

Birkett called into question the ability of Democratic Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn to fill the vacancy should Blagojevich resign or be removed from office.

“Whoever that person is is going to be perceived as the beneficiary of a political deal,” said Birkett, who ran for lieutenant governor against Quinn in 2006.

Birkett criticized his former opponent for failing to acknowledge the corruption allegations surrounding the governor at the time of his re-election.

“Everybody knew what was going on. Too many people failed to stand up,” Birkett said. “One of those people that failed to stand up was Pat Quinn.”

After initially supporting a special election after Blagojevich’s arrest, Quinn later said he could appoint a Senator if the governor were removed from office. Appearing Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, Quinn said he would favor appointing a temporary replacement until a special election can be held.

Republican state Sens. Dan Cronin, 21st District, of Elmhurst and Randy Hultgren, 48th District of Winfield also support a special election.

“To let the governor or somebody else make that decision with all that has been set out there would be improper right now,” Hultgren said.

Earlier this year, Cronin sponsored an unsuccessful measure that would have amended the state constitution to give voters the power to recall Blagojevich and other elected officials. It was defeated by three votes.

After the governor’s arrest, Cronin said he plans to reintroduce the measure, possibly during the current special session.

“There’s been a steady decline in the level of trust Illinois citizens have in their government. ... There’s been a steady stream of people that have been taken away in handcuffs over the years,” Cronin said. “That’s why a policy like recall was so imperative.”

State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-83rd District, of Aurora is among those who oppose the idea of a special election. She said it would be too costly at a time when the state is already in financial trouble.

“I have schools, I have social-service organizations, I have hospitals calling me saying, ‘Where are our payments?’” LaVia said. “The constitution provides the governor power to fill that vacancy. ... If we go through the impeachment process and (Lt. Gov.) Pat Quinn becomes governor, Pat would have the responsibility and role to choose that Senate appointee.”

GateHouse News Service contributed to this report.