Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
February 22, 2012

Republican Sen. Sharon Runner, who is awaiting a lung transplant for a rare autoimmune disease, announced today that she will not seek re-election in November.

Runner has been absent from the upper house since January, when she disclosed that complications related to her condition required her to work outside of Sacramento. She said today that she expects to make a full recovery and will focus on “business and philanthropic efforts” after leaving office.

“Serving the people of our community over my lifetime has been an amazing blessing and I am so very thankful for their support throughout each of my elections and my tenure in office,” Runner said in a statement. “In the coming years, I will be working on behalf of the community that I love, but not in the role as an elected official.”

Runnner, who previously served six years in the Assembly, was elected to the Senate in a 2011 special election. She filled the seat vacated by her husband, George Runner, who was elected to the state Board of Equalization the previous November.

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