Senator Ring Not Running
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Democratic State Sen. Jeremy Ring of Parkland said today he is not running for Congress
Jeremy Ring
“It was the numbers,” Ring said. “It is a Palm Beach district.”
About two thirds of the voters in House District 19 are in Palm Beach County with the rest in Northern Broward.
Ring, 39, said he particularly was reluctant to abandon his young family — he has children 3, 4, 6, and 8 years old — while he campaigned and then in Washington.
“It was a no-win,” the senator said. “I would have been disappointed if I didn’t win and disappointed if I did win because my family is so young.”
Ring denied speculation making the rounds in Democratic circles that he backed out of the race because U. S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, refused to endorse him.
It is Wexler’s Palm Beach County-based seat that came open when the representative quit to join a Middle East think tank earlier this week.
Wexler was a major backer of Ring’s 2006 state Senate race, but he is now expected to endorse state Sen. Ted Deutsch, D-Delray Beach.
A political unknown, Ring knocked on 25,000 doors to introduce himself to voters during his two-year long campaign for the state Senate.
“This would be a special election and I wouldn’t be able to do that,” Ring said. “It would all be on TV.”
A multi-millionaire former Yahoo! executive who is now an Internet start-up entrepreneur, Ring considered pouring as much as $500,000 of his own money to jump start a congressional race.
He said it was too much of a gamble.
“I may as well as gone to Vegas and put it on red or black,” he said.
Ring’s decision locks into place the political make-up of northwest Broward.
It is expected that a number of politicians considering his senate seat will stay where they are. State Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, is still said to be looking at running for Deutsch’s seat.
Ring made the announcement around 7 a.m.
Here is his written announcement:
“I’d like to thank everyone for their tremendous support this past week. After serious consideration, I will not be entering the race for congress for District 22. I enjoy and am proud in serving the people of District 32 in the Florida State Senate while maintaining strong quality time with my family.”
October 16th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Because nobody can beat Ted Deutsch. That’s why.
October 16th, 2009 at 8:18 am
he had no chance,the numbers were not there.