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He may not be done with politics, but Senate President pro-tempore Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, says he's doesn't have the “fire in the belly” — at least not the one he thought — when he filed recently to run for Congress against U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa.
Bennett withdrew from the race June 13, and in a press release, says, “In all honesty, I quickly realized that the 'fire' I was feeling was heartburn over constant fundraising, travel and the other demands of running for federal office. Traveling the world and fishing are candidly things I'm looking forward to catching up on when my term in the Florida Senate comes to an end.”
Bennett faces term limits in 2012, so the timing was good for him to consider higher office. But facing an incumbent along with the uncertainty of how congressional district boundaries will be drawn, which may have necessitated moving his residence, may also have factored in Bennett's decision.
An electrical contractor, business owner and developer, Bennett's keeping his options open for now: “Let me be clear. Is this the end of my life in politics? You all know me better than that.”
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