J.C. Watts will not seek Nickles' seat

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Former Rep. J.C. Watts said Tuesday that he would not be a candidate for the seat of retiring Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla.

In a statement praising Nickles for his service, Watts explained he had "already received many phone calls and other messages urging me to stand for election" but he had decided against it.

"When I chose to step down from my congressional duties in 2002, I embarked on an exciting new journey in my life. This journey has me in a direction that neither my family nor I am prepared to change at this time," Watts said.

For some time the only black Republican member of Congress, Watts spent two terms as chairman of the House Republican Conference, the No. 4 post in the GOP leadership.

"I'm confident the Republican Party will field a strong candidate in the tradition of Senator Nickles, and it is my intention to do all I can help to elect that person to the U.S. Senate," Watts said.