Kevorkian says he's running for Congress

PONTIAC , Mich., March 12 (UPI) -- Assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, once nicknamed "Dr. Death," announced he will run for the U.S. Congress.

Kevorkian, who will celebrate his 80th birthday in May, picked up petitions from the Oakland County, Mich., Clerk's Office Tuesday to run as a non-party affiliated candidate, The Oakland Press reported Wednesday.

"I plan to" seek office, Kevorkian said. "I wouldn't do this otherwise. We need some honesty and sincerity instead of corrupt government in Washington."

Kevorkian must collect a minimum of 3,000 signatures on nominating petitions by July 17 to be an independent candidate on the November ballot, the Michigan Secretary of State's office said.

He lives in the 9th Congressional District, currently represented by eight-term incumbent Rep. Joe Knollenberg, a Republican. Democrats currently filed to run include Gary Peters, former Michigan Lottery Commissioner.

Michigan law doesn't bar Kevorkian from seeking office or from voting since his release from prison.

Kevorkian served eight years of a 10-to-25-year sentence for second-degree murder April 13, 1999, for assisting in the suicide death of Thomas Youk, which he filmed and was broadcast on national television.

He was paroled June 1, 2007, and will be on parole until June 1, 2009, the state corrections department said.