Treasurer nixes governor bid, to run for re-election
Released 9/04/03

CHARLESTON -- State Treasurer John Perdue announced today that he would not run for governor next year.

Despite widespread popular support, Perdue said he was not able to raise the $1 million-plus dollars it would have taken to effectively communicate his message to the voters of West Virginia.

“I’m not a millionaire,” Perdue said. “I don’t have the personal wealth. It comes down to money. It’s as simple as that.”

Perdue said he will seek re-election to a third term as treasurer and pledged to continue the modernization of the treasurer’s office; the Smart 529 college savings plan; various financial education programs; and the highly popular Women and Money conferences.

In addition, the treasurer also administers the Unclaimed Property Act, which has returned a record $38 million to rightful owners in the past six years and more than $24 million to the General Revenue fund.

The treasurer and his family expressed their thanks to all the people who, because of their confidence in his integrity, values and leadership, had urged him to run for governor.

Perdue said he is sure his supporters are disappointed. “But the sun will come up tomorrow and who knows what the future will hold?”

The 53-year-old Perdue is a native of Boone County but has been a resident of Kanawha County for the past 30 years. In 1973, he began his career in state government working for Gus Douglass at the Department of Agriculture.

In 1989, he resigned as assistant commissioner to accept a job with former Gov. Gaston Caperton, where he was credited with successfully forging cooperation between the executive and legislative branches.

In 1996, he ran for his first elected office, state treasurer, and won by a wide margin. He was re-elected to a second term in 2000.