Governor Graves Announcement

A Kansas state leader takes on a new role. Kansas Governor Bill Graves announced today he will not seek reelection at the end of his term. He will instead become the leader of a national lobbying group for the trucking industry. At a news conference today, the governor said he will become the Chief Executive Officer of the American Trucking Associations. The announcement put to rest rumors that graves would leave office early. Governor Bill Graves - (R) Kansas "Theres been a lot of talk about resigning and let me just tell you all when ATA first contacted me, there wasn`t any doubt that I didnt consider myself as a candidate cause I assumed they would want leadership immediately. When they approached me there were discussions about my willingness to do that and I simply had to tell them that if it involved anything prior to January 13th 0-3, the answer would have to be no. They made the decision to come back with an offer that if they can make an interim offer, could you do that, meet the conditions and the answer was of course, yes. So in spite of some rumors and speculation there has never been any notion of not finishing up my term." Graves` term as governor ends January 13, 2003.