Thursday, February 9, 2012

A man who served as a top aide to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords -- and who was wounded along with her in last year's deadly Tucson shooting -- says he's going to run in a special election to serve the last six months of her term.

Democrat Ron Barber says Giffords and her husband asked him to run. He says he hasn't decided whether he'll run again in the regular election set for November in a newly-drawn district that will include most of the area Giffords had represented.

Barber, who was shot in the leg and face during the attack that left six people dead, was Giffords' district director. He says he's never run for office before, so he's taking it "one step at a time."

Giffords resigned last month to focus on her recovery from the shooting.

The special election primary is set for April 17, and the general election will be in June.