Kan. gov. says he's still not running in 2010
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson isn't reconsidering his decision not to run for the office in 2010.
Parkinson said Thursday that his decision on running has never depended on which fellow Democrat would seek the party's nomination.
On Wednesday, Tom Wiggans, a former pharmaceutical company executive, abandoned his campaign for the Democratic nomination. Wiggans had the backing of Democratic leaders and was viewed by them as the party's likely nominee against token opposition so far.
Wiggans' decision left Democrats without a strong challenger for the likely Republican nominee, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback.
Parkinson has been governor since April, when Gov. Kathleen Sebelius resigned to become health and human services secretary. He has said repeatedly he wants to return to private business.