by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
State Rep. Denise Lee, who lost a State Senate race to Tony Hill in September, is considering entering local politics again.
“I’ve heard that, too,” said Lee of the rumor she was interested in running for City Council again. “I’m just exploring my options right now. I’m going to take some time off, but I’m not going to make a decision right now.”
For the past three years, Lee has been the Dist. 1 representative. In September, Lee was beaten handily by Hill in an election that spurred talk of a divided African-American community. The defeat also left Lee looking for a job and the object of the local political rumor mill.
Lee said the opportunity to sit on City Council once again — she served for 17 years, many of those before term limits were imposed — is certainly intriguing, but she admitted she has hasn’t paid attention to the local races and hadn’t given it much thought until recently.
“I do love public office,” said Lee, who currently lives in Dist. 8, which is represented by Council member Gwen Yates, indicated that running against Yates was improbable. “I’ve always said I don’t know what else you can possibly do to help a lot of people but serve in public office. Public office is a great thing and I’ve always loved doing it.”
One rumor that Lee doesn’t deny, but also doesn’t purport has her moving into Dist. 7 and running against Pat Lockett-Felder, who supported Hill in his campaign against Lee. She may also consider a run at one of Council’s five at-large seats, two of which will be vacated by Ginger Soud and Dr. Gwen Chandler because of term limits.
“I’m just exploring options and have made no decision on exactly what I want to do,” said Lee. “I’m in transition right now, getting my office straightened out and looking at options. People have talked to me about things and inquired about what I’ll do. They have said, ‘Denise, public office has been in your blood for 20 years. We would continue to support you.’
“Because people have asked, I’ve thought about it. I told them, I’d explore it.”
Lee, who was elected to Council in 1980, said the prospect of reentering local politics is attractive and the fact a new administration will be ushered in has no bearing on her decision.
“I served on City Council for 17 years. The constituents and I got a lot done,” she said. “I don’t think things change that much. The neighborhoods continue to have issues that need to be addressed. I have not even looked at any dates relative to qualifying.”