ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

CHRISTOPHER WILLS

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)—State Treasurer Patrick Quinn launched his high-profile campaign for term limits Thursday by dropping the provisions that would affect statewide officials.

Quinn is pushing ahead with efforts to force a referendum on eight-year limits for lawmakers. A similar limit on officials such as governor and treasurer, which he proposed last week under the title ‘‘Eight is Enough,’‘ must be postponed.

‘‘In Illinois, under the current constitution, the only term limitation that we can propose by binding referendum is one affecting legislators,’‘ Quinn said at a Capitol news conference. ‘‘I hope the Legislature will propose the same kind of amendment for constitutional officers.’‘

Citizens can place constitutional amendments on the ballot only if they affect the Legislature’s operation. All other amendment proposals must be approved by lawmakers.

If Quinn can collect more than 260,000 valid signatures by May 8, voters will get to decide next fall whether lawmakers should be limited to eight years in office.

The eight-year limit would apply to lawmakers’ total time served, whether in the House, the Senate or both.

‘‘We need to limit the powers of incumbency and make room for new people with fresh ideas to enter the political system,’‘ said Quinn, a Democrat and potential candidate for governor.

He was joined by Aldo Botti, a Republican who became DuPage County chairman in an upset victory over an entrenched incumbent.

Botti said his victory was an exception to the rule that incumbents have an unfair advantage. His race cost $500,000, enough to persuade him not to run for re-election.

‘‘The people of the state of Illinois have their hands tied,’‘ Botti said. ‘‘We want to end professionalism in political office.’‘

Botti is helping the petition drive through a group called Term Limits Illinois. Quinn’s populist political career has thrived on petition drives, including a successful effort to cut the House of Representatives by one-third.