Posted on 11/23/2005 11:47:00 AM PST by Spiff
Jim Kolbe to retire from Congress
Associated Press Nov. 23, 2005 12:35 PM
Veteran U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe has decided he won’t seek re-election in 2006, political associates said Wednesday. He will have served 22 years in the U.S. House by the time he steps down next year.
The 63-year-old Arizona Republican has served in the House since 1985. He acknowledged in 1996 that is a homosexual.
State Sen. Toni Hellon, R-Tucson, said Kolbe told her of his intentions during a telephone call Wednesday. “He wants to do other things,” she said. A second person who is a political associate said he had decided not to seek re-election. That person spoke on condition of anonymity because Kolbe hadn’t yet announced his decision. advertisement
“He wants to do something else, whether it’s teaching or consulting or something else — before it’s too late,” the associate said. “He said he looks around and sees people there (in the House) in their 80s and he doesn’t think he wants to be there when he’s that age.”
Kolbe is an expert on free-trade issues and been a vocal supporter of proposals for a guest-worker program.
He first was elected to Congress in 1984, when he defeated Democratic Rep. Jim McNulty.
Back to his private enterprise job...er.....nevermind...
I'll bet.
Good riddance.
Randy Graf for Congress!
I'm probably the only freeper who has had dinner with Jim and his then wife. I lived next door in New Canaan, Ct. to a guy who was Jim's roommate in Chicago. In 1986, I was saying hi to my friends and they invited me over for dinner.
Can the GOP hold the seat?
The one percenters and single issue group don't care.
"Can the GOP hold the seat?"
I think that depends on if you think the GOP is holding it now.
This is a big blow to
(1) The open borders lobby
(2) Planned Parenthood International and other social-left NGOs that are government parasites,
(3) The democrats that get money from Planned Parenthood donors who don't have to give to the family planning lobby, because of the government funding,
(4) Republican moderates.
All around, a good day for America.
Is the seat safe ?
Bush carried the district twice but by narrower margins than other Republican Arizona districts. He got 53%-46% in 2004.
I will contribute to his one way ticket to san fran sicko.
D.C. changes a man, lol.
Of course I understand your point but at the very least his seat helps maintain the majority whcih means the GOP controls the committees and for sustaining long term change, that's what it takes. You don't win by losing.
“He wants to do something else ... before it’s too late,”
Living that lifestyle, too late may come sooner than he thinks!
I was joking....
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