Rep. Vento Stepping Down

Longtime U.S. Rep. Bruce Vento, D-Minn., said Wednesday he won't seek re-election because he has lung cancer.

Vento, who has served in Congress since 1977, said he will finish his term but needs to focus on treatment of his illness, malignant mesothelioma. The cancer was detected in the first stages and his doctors believe it is treatable, Vento said in a written statement.

John Van Hecke, director of Vento's district office in St. Paul, said malignant mesothelioma is most commonly associated with exposure to asbestos, but it isn't known if that is what caused Vento's cancer. He said Vento has "no idea" when he would have been exposed to asbestos.

"The specialists at the Mayo Clinic have recommended an aggressive course of treatment," said Vento, 59. "Such treatment must be my first priority. It is a fight that I did not expect but it is a challenge that I hope to win.

"During this treatment I will continue to fulfill my congressional responsibilities. However, the additional demands of a re-election campaign are, at this time, too great and as a result, I will not seek re-election," he said.

Before he was elected to Congress, Vento served in the Minnesota Legislature from 1971-76. He previously was a high school science and social studies teacher in the Minneapolis school system for more than 10 years.

Vento was in his St. Paul district office Wednesday but was not granting media interviews, Van Hecke said.

Some accomplishments Vento cited were the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, legislation that led to drug prevention programs for pregnant women and his work on the Natural Resources Committee.

Vento's 4th District covers the eastern area of the Twin Cities and is considered Democratic-leaning because of its strong labor tradition and concentration of state government workers.

Interest in the seat was expected to be intense, and Republicans' chances improved without facing an incumbent Democrat.

Tony Sutton, executive director of the Minnesota Republican Party, expressed sympathy for Vento. But the party recognizes a "unique opportunity" to take a seat that hasn't been in Republican hands since 1948.

"Vento's consistently been getting 55 percent or less," Sutton said. "It puts this seat high on the radar screen."

Among the possible candidates he named were St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman and Dennis Newinski, who lost in 1998 in his third bid to unseat Vento.

State Rep. Matt Entenza was among the Democrats who said he might be interested in running for Vento's seat.