This afternoon Kenny Hulshof, the R congressman from MO-9, confirmed rumors which have been widely heard in Missouri that he is indeed a candidate for the University of Missouri System President. From today's Columbia Daily Tribune:
U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof acknowledged today that he is a candidate to be the next president of the University of Missouri.
"I’d like to finally acknowledge a poorly guarded secret: I am on the list of possible candidates for the position of president of the University of Missouri system," Hulshof said today in a prepared statement to the Tribune.
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"It is one of the very few jobs for which I would consider leaving Congress," he said. "There are family considerations as well."
Hulshof lives in Columbia with his wife, Renee, and his two daughters, Casey and Hanna. If he gets the appointment, he would more than double his salary and eliminate the weekly commuter trips to Washington.
As I said in this diary last week, given the climate for Republican candidates in '08, I would not be surprised that Hulshof is willing to get out while the gettin' is good. He is still young enough (he just turned 49), and moderate enough as Republicans go, that he could serve as UM system prez for a decade before considering whether to run for a senate seat or even gearing up for a presidential/VP bid.
This is an excellent opportunity for the Dems to pick up a seat in a special election, if Hulshof is offered the job. Keep your fingers crossed!