Former Alaska U.S. Sen. Mark Begich said Saturday that he\u2019d founded a consulting firm and would work for a health care trade organization and an Alaska airline, Grant Aviation.<\/p>\n
Begich, a one-term Democrat who last year lost his re-election bid to Republican Dan Sullivan, said in a press release that he\u2019d been hired by the airline and by the National Association for Home Care and Hospice.<\/p>\n
The announcement ends speculation that Begich, a former Anchorage mayor, could enter the race to take back his old job. This year\u2019s mayoral election is in April, and left-of-center candidates have been waiting to announce their intentions until Begich, who had acknowledged considering a bid, made up his mind.<\/p>\n
In a phone interview late Saturday, Begich said he received an \u201cenormous amount\u201d of encouragement to run for mayor, and thought he could win the race. But he ultimately wanted a job that would allow his son, Jacob, to finish his last two years of middle school in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolitical office can come and go but seventh and eighth grade only come once,\u201d Begich said. \u201cI might be chaperoning a few more dances than he thought.\u201d<\/p>\n
Begich and his family will continue splitting their time between Washington, D.C., and Alaska, and he said he would maintain his Alaska residency.<\/p>\n