Ex-Rep. Frank on Senate seat: Put me in, governor
Retired Rep. Barney Frank says he would like to temporarily replace Mass. Sen. John Kerry
Retiring Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. talks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, prior to the start of the 113th Congress. Joseph Kennedy III is scheduled to be sworn in Thursday, replacing Frank. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
BOSTON (AP) -- Newly retired Rep. Barney Frank revealed on Friday that he would like to serve as a temporary successor to Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the secretary of state nominee.
Frank told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that he had asked Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint him to serve as the state's interim senator until a special election is held to fill Kerry's seat.
"Coach, put me in," Frank said Friday, one day after his 32-year career in the House ended.
A spokeswoman for Patrick said the governor had no immediate comment.
Under state law, the Democratic governor will be required to fill the seat with an interim appointment if the Senate confirms Kerry as secretary of state. The special election would then be scheduled between 145 days and 160 days — about five months — after Kerry's departure.
Frank previously had said he didn't want the appointment. But the 72-year-old Democrat, who served 16 terms and headed the House Financial Services Committee, noted Friday that the fiscal cliff deal that was reached earlier this week to avoid tax cuts on most Americans also means that major spending decisions will be made in next few months, and he would like to be involved in that.
"A few weeks ago, in fact, I said I wasn't interested, which is kind of like you're about to graduate, and they said 'You have to go to summer school,'" Frank told MSNBC. "That deal now means that February, March and April are going to be among the most important months in American financial (history)."
Patrick has made clear that he planned to choose an interim senator who was not interested in running in the special election. The winner of that race would serve out the remainder of Kerry's term, which ends after the 2014 election.
Frank said he has no interest in running in the special election.
"I wouldn't want to do anything more. I don't want to run again," he said.
Michael Dukakis, the former governor and the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee, and Victoria Kennedy, widow of the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, have been among other names mentioned as possible interim senators.
Long-time U.S. Rep. Edward Markey has said he plans to run in the special election and several other Democrats have said they are considering becoming candidates if Kerry is confirmed.
Former Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who lost his re-election bid to Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, is also weighing another run.
