By John Gregory/Illinois Radio Network

CHICAGO – The outgoing U.S. Education Secretary may have sounded like a candidate in his farewell speech, but he insists he’s not gearing up to run for office.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan officially leaves office Jan. 1. He returned to his hometown of Chicago and St. Sabina Church to talk not about education issues, but violence and poverty.

“What’s harming our children is not just gun violence, it’s the hopelessness,” Duncan said. “It’s the lack of hope and the disconnectedness that leads children to pick up those guns when they have challenges.”

Duncan proposed what he called a “new deal for children,” broken down into four parts: expanding early childhood education, reforming prison sentences for nonviolent crimes, mentoring children who are struggling, and creating jobs in minority communities.

Several people in the audience cheered when Duncan was asked about running for office, specifically governor, but he said that’s not in his plans.

“A big piece of what I want to do is I want to help communities like Chicago and the South Side and others try to get to a better place,” Duncan said. “You can do that in many different ways. Running for office is one way. It’s not the only way to have an impact.”

Duncan has never run for office, having served in appointed positions as the chief executive of Chicago Public Schools from 2001 to 2009 before being named to President Obama’s Cabinet.