Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Ross Ponders Race

State Sen. Mike Ross has been besieged recently about his political future.

A state newspaper speculated Ross will run against Rep. Jay Dickey (R-Ark.) for the Fourth Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in the year 2000.

Ross's term in the state senate will expire at this time, and, under the current term limit law, he can never seek the office of state senator again.

He has never ruled out a possible bid for higher office, but has said he would not run in the middle of his term. "I was elected by the people to do a job and don't think it would be right not to finish it," Ross said.

Currently, Ross is involved in the 86th General Assembly and has little time to ponder his political future.

"I will make a decision on running for Congress after the session ends," he said. "I will either be in or out of the race by early summer. Now, I'm focused on the session."

Unless there is a special session later this year or next year, Ross's time in office will pretty much be at an end when the session is over.

Ross, 37, said he needs to make a decision on running for Congress, but will first discuss the idea with others - especially his family.

The Ross family, he said is comfortable with the idea of his seeking higher office.