SPRINGFIELD - Democrat Roland Burris has stood in the middle of the political spotlight for the past week in his quest to assume a seat in the U.S. Senate. But some who served with Burris when he was state comptroller and attorney general said he didn't make nearly as much noise as an officeholder.

After initially balking, Democratic leaders in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday appeared more open to the possibility of giving Burris the Senate seat Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed him to last week.

Burris, 71, left his last term as an elected official more than a decade ago, but his work then could suggest what his Senate term might be like if he gets to serve.

State Rep. Gary Hannig, D-Litchfield, served in the Illinois House throughout Burris' time in office and said Burris "served honorably."

Hannig said Burris was known for being the first African-American to hold statewide office in Illinois but often didn't stand out much otherwise.

"He was someone who, I think, showed up every day and got the job done," Hannig said. "I don't know that he was ever seen as the greatest thing since sliced bread."

Burris was perhaps mostly behind the scenes because of the offices he held. He worked as state comptroller from 1979 to 1991, an office where the main job is to pay the state's bills.

Former Gov. Jim Edgar remembers Burris was reserved as the state's attorney general. But he said Burris might find a more prominent voice as a member of the U.S. Senate.

"Of course, you never know," Edgar said. "This is a whole different situation."

Regarding policy, Edgar predicted Burris wouldn't break with his party.

"I think he'll be pretty much right down the line with the Democrats," Edgar said. "I don't think he'd stray."

Burris took a turn in leadership of the Democratic National Committee in the 1980s.

In a campaign for governor in 1998, Burris supported increased gun control, and in a second attempt for governor in 2002, he called for the state to pay more toward schools. Burris lost another campaign for governor in 1996 and also lost bids for the U.S. Senate and mayor of Chicago.

Former state Sen. Denny Jacobs of East Moline said Burris' recent actions seeking out the Senate seat might foreshadow things to come.

"He's not going to be out making lots of noise," Jacobs predicted. "But if there's something that's tripping his trigger, you'll hear about it."

mike.riopell@lee.net|789-0865