Cobb decides against gubernatorial run in 2010

Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb said in a statement Wednesday that she will not run for governor in 2010.
The Democrat sent out an earlier statement saying she had been encouraged by some people to run for governor and by others to remain the head of the state's judicial system. She is the only Democrat on the nine-member Supreme Court.
Cobb said in her statement that serving as chief justice has been a privilege and she would remain in that position. Unlike some other officials who remain in their elected position while running for another office, Cobb would have had to step down from as chief justice to run for governor.
"I am honored to have been sought out and encouraged to run for governor by so many Alabamians from all walks of life," she said. "Their support has been humbling and perhaps made this decision the most difficult I have ever been called upon to make."
Cobb said she would continue to work on programs in the judicial system that she believes benefits the people of Alabama.
"I care greatly about where we are as a state and the direction in which we need to go," she said.
Some power players in the Alabama Democratic Party have approached Cobb, state Sen. Roger Bedford, Montgomery County Circuit Judge Charles Price and other Democrats because of their apparent discontent with the current candidates, U.S. Rep. Artur Davis and Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks.
Those Democrats, including top officials with the Alabama Education Association, started talking to other prospective candidates after Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. said he would run for reelection and not for governor.
Soon after Cobb's announcement, Davis said in a statement that he considers her a friend, respects her and her work to help the state's children and promote judicial reform, and said they would have had a dignified campaign about the state's future.
"As governor, I would work closely with her to improve the quality of life for Alabama's children; and I look forward to supporting her re-election in 2012 to the Alabama Supreme Court," he said.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen