Gibson (file): “… a new
direction with my family”
KINDERHOOK – Congressman Christopher Gibson (R, NY-19), who is not seeking re-election this fall and who formed an exploratory committee to consider running for governor in 2018, announced Monday that he is leaving politics at the end of his current term.
The popular lawmaker said upon the conclusion of his term in the House, he will be “starting this new direction with my family.” That will include in the field of academia. He served for 29 years in the military and six years in Congress.
Gibson said he will be closing his gubernatorial exploratory committee shortly and refund contributions he has received.
Now, he said the last year has brought “into greater clarity what our next steps should be as a family.” He said his wife, Mary Jo, and he have three teenagers who are in their last years at home and has also accepted a position with Williams College as a visiting lecturer on leadership beginning in February 2017 and anticipates accepting other academic positions shortly.
“Ultimately, for our family, the opportunity to spend increased time together balanced with a return to academia was one we could not pass up,” he said.
Ulster County GOP Chairman Roger Rascoe termed Gibson “the greatest patriot I ever met in my life” and that he would have made a great governor. But, Rascoe conceded that he cannot blame the congressman for wanting to spend more time at home with his family.
Republican John Faso, who is running to fill Gibson’s 19th District congressional seat, said Gibson “is a true American patriot.”
