Mayor seeks DeLay's seat as write-in

SUGAR LAND, Texas, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Sugar Land, Texas, Mayor David Wallace said Wednesday he'd like to run as a write-in candidate to replace former U.S. Rep. Tom Delay, R-Texas.

DeLay -- who resigned as House Majority Leader, and then resigned from Congress earlier this year -- lost a court battle to have the Texas Republican Party replace him with another candidate for his former seat on the November ballot. DeLay said he would withdraw his candidacy and support a Republican write-in candidate.

Wallace said he has the backing of Republicans, his family, grassroots leaders and friends in his write-in bid, KBTV-TV in Beaumont, Texas, reported.

The Democratic nominee, former Rep. Nick Lampson, had no immediate comment.

Wallace said in a statement he would "be taking the fight to Nick Lampson and his liberal allies every day."