PROVIDENCE -- U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., announced today he will
not run for Senate in 2006 because he believes he can be more effective
by continuing his work as a congressman.
Kennedy's decision comes exactly a week after Rhode Island's other
congressman, Jim Langevin, said he would not seek Republican Sen.
Lincoln Chafee's seat, and urged Kennedy to run.
In a statement issued today, Kennedy said, "I am grateful for the
support and encouragement I have received to run for the Senate, but
over the past few days, I have determined that I can make the greatest
difference in the lives of Rhode Island families by remaining on the
Appropriations Committee in the House of Representatives and fighting
for their priorities."
Kennedy was appointed in 1998 to the Appropriations Committee, which he
characterized as "the most powerful committee in Congress."
As a member of the committee, Kennedy says he has brought almost a
half-billion dollars to Rhode Island "that wouldn't have otherwise come
to our state."
Kennedy noted that the funding has helped programs such as Thundermist
Health Center in Woonsocket, which provides health care to nearly 4,000
people in northern Rhode Island, or the Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club,
and companies such as Raytheon, which, he said, employs nearly 1,750
people in Aquidneck Island.
"I am very proud of the work I've done to provide resources for projects
and resources that make a real difference in people's lives," Kennedy
said.
In Bristol this morning, Chafee said he respects Kennedy's decision.
"Certainly, I'm sure it was a hard one,'' he said.
Chafee praised Kennedy's continued work in the House of Representatives.
He said Kennedy had stated in December he would not seek Chafee's seat,
but that Democratic party officials likely had a strong interest in
having Kennedy reconsider.
``If he made that decision in December, I thought it would be hard for
him to change his mind," Chafee said.
Rep. Kennedy, the son of U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass. and nephew
of the late President John F. Kennedy, was first elected to the U.S.
House of Representatives in November 1994, at age 27.
Sen. Kennedy said in a statement, "I'm enormously proud of Patrick and I
respect his decision. He's right to put personal considerations aside
and do what he feels is best for the people of Rhode Island, whom he
cares about so much and serves so well. I'm certain he'll remain a
powerful and effective voice in Congress for many years to come."
In his announcement today, Rep. Kennedy also expressed gratitude for the
"outpouring of support" for his mother. Joan Kennedy, 68, was
hospitalized with a concussion and a broken shoulder early yesterday
morning after a passer-by found her lying in a Boston street.
Details of what happened were unclear and there was no police report on
the incident. Joan Kennedy, who splits time between a home on Cape Cod
and a Boston condominium, has struggled with alcoholism. She spent time
in a number of rehabilitation programs following arrests for drunken
driving.
"My family means everything to me and I would appreciate you respecting
my family's privacy at this time," Kennedy said in the news release.
The only declared candidate for the Senate race is Secretary of State
Matthew Brown, also a Democrat.
Another Democrat who has been mulling a run is Sheldon Whitehouse, the
former state attorney general.
Whitehouse said today that he wait until next week to make any
announcements about his plans.
-- With reports from The Associated Press and Journal staff writer
Michael McKinney.
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