Cross one name off the list.
Sam Caligiuri announced today he will not run for Congress in 2012. Caliguiri was the Republican nominee who lost last fall to U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5th District, who is passing up a re-election run next year to seek the open U.S. Senate seat.
But even an open congressional seat is not enough to attract Caligiuri, a former state senator from Waterbury. As was the case in 2010, he would have faced a primary for the nomination.
His statement:
“The opportunity to run for Congress in 2010 was a tremendous honor. My decision to run for Congress in Connecticut’s Fifth District was made by answering a simple question, ‘at this time can I make a difference and help the people of Connecticut by serving in Congress?’ Based on my wife, Lori’s, and my belief that we needed to restore fiscal conservatism to our federal government, we concluded that yes, I could make a difference if elected. Although I was disappointed that we came up short in our election, I was pleased that the message of restoring fiscal responsibility resounded throughout our nation and led to significant changes in Congress.
“Since the end of the 2010 campaign, I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of well-wishers and individuals encouraging me to run again in 2012 for Congress in the Fifth District. While my commitment to serving the people of Connecticut is stronger than ever, Lori and I have made the decision that I will not run for Congress in 2012. With a young family, I believe that I must find a way to help make a difference in our state from closer to home than serving in Washington at this time would permit.
“Lori and I will be forever grateful to our many friends who provided us with the support, help and encouragement to run a strong race in 2010. We look forward to finding new ways to serve Connecticut.”