Rabu, 02 Februari 2011

Democrat John Conyers to run for 25th term in Congress

Democratic Rep. John Conyers, the longest-serving African American in Congress, says he'll run for a 25th term.


The Michigan lawmaker told The Detroit News that he'll run again. "I'm not the retiring type," said Conyers, 81. "If I wanted to retire, I could do that, too. I actually love my work."


Conyers, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, was first elected in 1964.



He hasn't had a tough re-election bid in years. But members of Conyers' family have drawn headlines: His wife, Monica, is in prison on corruption charges, and the congressman recently reimbursed the U.S. Treasury for the time his son, John Conyers III, drove his government-leased Cadillac Escalade.


Michigan is set to lose a seat in redistricting because of its population loss.


Bill Ballenger, editor of a newsletter about Michigan politics, told The News that he believes the early signs about the 2012 elections from Conyers and Democratic Rep. John Dingell, the longest-serving member of the House, are meant as ways to stake out their ground in what is likely to be a bitter redistricting fight.


By Catalina Camia, USA TODAY


source