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After spending the last 14 months traveling around Michigan’s 1st Congressional District and talking to voters, Peter Pettalia has decided against running to replace Congressman Dan Benishek who is retiring. Pettalia, who represents Michigan’s 106th District in Lansing, has reached his term limit at the end of the year.
Pettalia said he has been encouraged to run by people in the district, as well as some in Lansing and Washington but after careful consideration he decided now was not the time.
“It was a family decision not to run,” Pettalia said. “What I will be doing now is working for conservative candidates throughout the north to help like-minded conservatives become elected to House seats, or retain their Senate seats.”
Currently there are three Republican running for Benishek’s seat – Tom Casperson, Jack Bergman and Jason Allen. Pettalia said he has a good working relationship with Casperson and Allen, but has met Bergman only once over coffee. He said he intends to endorse one of the three in the next month or so, but isn’t ready to make an announcement yet.
“I will more than likely be endorsing a candidate, but at this time I’m not prepared to do that,” Pettalia said. “After the dust settles and I have an opportunity to talk face to face to the candidates in place now, I will definitely endorse one of them.”
After he leaves office Pettalia said he believes there are many exciting things for him to do, and he may even remain involved in politics. He said he has a business in Alpena he loves and he wouldn’t mind spending more time fishing.
“There are a lot of things that are open for me to do,” Pettalia said. “I think there will probably be opportunities for me to stay in politics. With the shortness of term limits you can have things that become of value to other members and they may lean upon you for your experience. We’ll wait and see. There may be something like that. I’ll know more by November where Peter Pettalia’s place might be.”
Pettalia said he still is not ready to endorse one of the republican candidates who is running for his current seat. He said the three Republican candidates, Jackie Krawczak, Jesse Osmer and Sue Allor, are all capable of doing a good job in Lansing.
“I know and have worked with all three of them and I wouldn’t have a problem with any one of them,” Pettalia said. “I’m sure I’ll endorse one of them, but now is just not the right time.”
Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews. Read his blog, Upon Further Review … at www.thealpenanews.com.