Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Allan Bense's statement

The following is the text of House Speaker Allan Bense's statement made Wednesday on his decision not to run for U.S. Senate:

By Times Staff
Published May 10, 2006

	Bense won't run for Senate

"I have been extremely honored and humbled by the strong support and encouragement I have received from my family, my friends and from people across Florida who I admire greatly. However, I have decided not to run for the United States Senate.

"While the challenge of running a successful campaign over the next several months was exciting, and while I am confident we would have been successful, ultimately my decision came down to the fundamental question of whether I was willing to spend the next six, 12 or possibly 18 years of my life away from my family and my home serving Florida in the U.S. Senate. After much thought and prayer, I realized the answer to that question is "No.'^"

"The last eight years has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I am proud of the successes I have enjoyed as a state representative and finally as Speaker of the Florida House. I hope I will be remembered as a Speaker who set aside any partisan or personal agenda and worked hard to make decisions based upon what was in the best interest of the people of Florida.

"Now, I look forward to spending time with my wife, Tonie, seeing our daughter, Courtney, get married this summer, helping our son, Jason, begin his career and sending our youngest son, Taylor, off to college. I am also eager to get back to the business interests I have neglected while serving the public and to pursuing whatever new opportunities may arise."

[Last modified May 10, 2006, 12:02:51]