Gibbons passed over for post

Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004 | 11:13 a.m.

SUN WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., will not serve as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, ending weeks of cautious speculation on who would be named to the post.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., named Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., as chairman Wednesday, choosing him over Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., whose name had also come up as being on the short lists of possible chairman.

Gibbons was reported to be out of the running earlier this month, but nothing could be confirmed.

Gibbons, who made no secret of his desire to be chairman, said he was "obviously disappointed," Hastert did not choose him but that Hoekstra "is certainly capable of providing the necessary leadership required to meet the challenges before us today."

Gibbons had more seniority than Hoekstra on the committee.

If Gibbons had been named chairman he would not have considered running for governor in 2006, his spokeswoman Amy Spanbauer confirmed this morning. Gibbons name has been circulated as a possibile contender to succeed Gov. Kenny Guinn but he has made no official decision yet.

The Congressional committee's chairmanship became vacant because President Bush nominated the former chairman, Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla., to serve as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

"Pete has big shoes to fill, but I am confident he will do an excellent job," Hastert said.