Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick: I'm not running for president

BOSTON, July 17 (UPI) -- Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said Wednesday he plans to return to private life after he finishes his second term and will not run for U.S. president.

John Walsh's move from state Democratic chairman to head of Patrick's political action committee had raised speculation about a presidential bid, but Patrick said he is not thinking about running for president in 2016, The Boston Globe reported.

"I'm going to finish this second term, I'm going to go back into the private sector. And as Diane, my wife says, pay some attention to our family and friends while they are still willing have us pay some attention," Patrick said during a visit to the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

Patrick said he hopes to use his PAC to help people who are not career politicians seek political office.

Elected governor in 2006, Patrick is the first black to lead the state. He finishes his second term in January 2015.