On Friday, he spoke at St. Xavier University's Orland Park campus on the topic of managing change.
After his speech, he said whoever is elected will need to rebuild county government and probably serve only one term.
"It very well may not be me it may be someone else, but whoever takes on that challenge is going to have to leave his or her political ambition at the door," said Paul Vallas.
If he runs, it would be as a Republican.
Vallas lost the Democratic primary for governor to Rod Blagojevich in 2002.