WASHINGTON-Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.) has dropped out of the running to head the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association.
“This past week, my family and I did feel an obligation to have a serious discussion about my having the opportunity to lead the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association and to consider the impact of that on our five boys,” said Pickering in a statement.
“Today I feel a calling to public service and am withdrawing my name from consideration of the CTIA position,” said Pickering. “I will continue serving the people of Mississippi, which is a great honor, duty and privilege. I want to thank everyone who has supported me and my family.”
CTIA said it was honored that Pickering considered joining the organization. “We were honored that Congressman Pickering would consider joining CTIA. We respect his commitment to public service and his decision to remain as the representative in Congress of the people of the third district of Mississippi,” the association said.
Until last week, the process to pick a successor to CTIA President Thomas Wheeler had been kept very secret. Last week, Pickering’s name surfaced mysteriously as a bona fide candidate for the $1 million-a-year CTIA post.
