Retiring congressman will work for non-profit electric company
By: Nancy Cook
Updated: May 14, 2012
Retiring U.S. Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) announced today he will not run for governor of Arkansas in 2014, but instead will join the non-profit sector.
When he retires, Ross will join Little Rock-based Southwest Power Pool as its senior vice president for Government Affairs and Public Relations
Though he said he seriously considered a run for the top spot in Arkansas, he had enjoyed spending more time with his family after his July 2011 announcement that he had decided not to seek a seventh term in Congress.
In his formal statement, he said, "We have enjoyed getting back to a more normal way of life after 22 continuous years of elective service. This led me to the realization that there is life after politics."
Ross said Southwest Power Pool performs an important mission in managing the electric grid and keeping electric rates affordable in nine states.
"Public service has always been an important part of my life, and although I will no longer be holding elective office, this is another way for me to continue to serve the public as Southwest Power Pool works to meet the electricity needs of its nine-state region today and for the future," Ross said, adding that the company is "an especially good fit for me as I begin a new chapter in my life, because Southwest Power Pool is a non-profit organization that serves an important public service," adding that it allows him to remain in Arkansas with his family.
Prior to his election to Congress in 2000, Ross served 10 years in the Arkansas State Senate.
