Senate President John Cullerton says plan to retire in January is a ‘promise kept’

Grandpa ‘Hootie’ ain’t no blowfish!

Translation: Powerful Senate President John Cullerton, who tells Sneed he is known as “Grandpa Hootie” to his three grandkids, suddenly announced Thursday his intention to resign his prime political post in January.

“It finally became a promise kept,” Cullerton tells Sneed.

“I promised my wife, Pam, I would retire a year ago to help her take care of our grandkids,” said Cullerton. “The grandkids call me ‘Hootie,’ ” chuckled Cullerton, whose comedic wit is legendary among politicos and the press.

So “Grandpa Hootie,” who turned 71 last month — and served in politics for 40 years — was able to negotiate one more year’s extension with “Grandma (Pam) Mimi,” “because I wanted to be able to work at least in the beginning with a new Democratic governor (J.B. Pritzker.)

”You actually tipped the story a year ago I planned to retire, but Pam relented and gave me one more year,” he chuckled.

“And believe me, Pam, who is very involved with our three grandchildren, needs ‘Hootie’ to be involved,” he said.

Cullerton also tells Sneed he has NO plans to endorse his next successor as Senate president.

“That determination is set for sometime in early January, but I plan to have no part in that and let others make that decision!”

However, Cullerton’s decision to retire in January never wavered.

“I had a Sunday meeting with our five kids to tell them my decision and asked them not to tell anyone.

“It looks like they kept their word.”

“Look, I’m still the Dem committeeman in U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley’s district and plan to keep that job — as well as practicing law at the Thompson Coburn law firm.

“But, believe me, Grandpa Hootie has his job cut out for him ... and if anyone claims that’s an easy one ... they’ve got a lot to learn!”

Over and out.

But not quite yet.