Dr. William Petit, whose wife and two daughters were killed in a 2007 home invasion that horrified the country, has decided not to run for Connecticut’s 5th Congressional seat.
Dr. Petit had been approached about running for public office and said and October that it was “50-50” that he would run.
Today, a spokesperson for Dr. Petit released the following statement.
"I will not be a candidate for the 5th Congressional seat.
"I had been approached by a number of people who urged me to consider this possibility and suggested that I could make a difference if elected. I have always felt it is a great responsibility and privilege in a democracy to run for public office, and that those who care about good government need to be willing to get involved. That said, I am newly re-married and have a 10 week old son with whom I am spending a lot of loving time. That is my clear priority, and I feel particularly blessed to be able to devote my time to them and to continue to volunteer for the Petit Family Foundation at this stage of my life" --- William A. Petit, Jr. MD, FACP, FACE
Dr. Petit remarried in 2012. In November 2013, they had a baby boy.
Dr. Petit, the only survivor of the hostage ordeal in Cheshire, has campaigned against the repeal of Connecticut's death penalty after his wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, and their daughters, 17-year-old Hayley and 11-year-old Michaela, were killed.
In memory of his wife and their daughters, Petit created the Petit Family Foundation, which helps educate young people, improve the lives of those with chronic illnesses and protect those affected by violence.
Steven Hayes, 50, and Joshua Komisarjevsky, 33, have been sentenced to death for the killings.
