Mark Kelly not running for Giffords' seat

[ellisonz]

Published: Jan. 27, 2012 at 6:09 PM

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Mark Kelly said Friday he is not running for the House seat left vacant by the resignation of his wife, Gabrielle Giffords D-Ariz.

Although it's common for a person to run for a seat vacated by their spouse, Kelly, a NASA astronaut and naval officer, put aside any speculation he would continue his wife's work in Congress.

"That would not be me," Kelly told CNN. "I'm not running. My job right now is to make sure Gabby has everything she needs."

Kelly said the decision to resign from Congress was "difficult" for Giffords, but she made the choice to focus on the recovery of her communication skills, The Hill reported.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/01/27/Mark-Kelly-not-running-for-Giffords-seat/UPI-71241327705798/#ixzz1kiG3oREx

[JI7]

1. that wouldn't make any sense

since her reasons for resigning were to get better and didn't he leave NASA to help her ?

i hope a Dem wins and i hope Gabby comes back in not too distant future.

[MADem]

2. Isn't he still on active duty? nt

[ellisonz]

5. Nope.

On June 21, 2011, Kelly announced that he would be leaving NASA's astronaut corps and the U.S. Navy effective October 1. He cited the needs of his wife during her recovery as a reason for his retirement.[1] Kelly and Giffords announced plans for a joint memoir which would include a discussion of the Tucson shooting. The book was released by Scribner in November 2011.[45][46] Kelly's retirement has raised speculation that he might run for office in 2012 either for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Jon Kyl who is retiring, or for his wife's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives if her health condition prevents her from running for re-election. Kelly says he is not running for office but he also has not ruled out the possibility.[47]

He plans to make public speaking appearances after his retirement. Kelly says that he will discuss his career as an astronaut and share his and Giffords's "story with audiences in a way that will allow healing and strength to emerge from a tragic event, and to remind everyone about the resiliency of the human spirit."[48]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Kelly_%28astronaut%29#U2

[MADem]

6. Thanks! nt

[craigmatic]

3. Is the seat safe or compeditive?

[ellisonz]

4. Competative.

Her opponent from last election Jesse Kelly has already announced he's running along with another Republican. No Dem has announced to my knowledge.