ANCHORAGE - Beset by poor health and dogged in a corruption investigation, state Sen. John Cowdery has withdrawn his bid for re-election, officials said Thursday.
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The 77-year-old Cowdery, R-Anchorage, cited age and health as his reasons in a handwritten letter delivered Wednesday to the Alaska Public Offices Commission, said APOC Assistant Director Christina Ellingson.
He filed a letter of intent with APOC in 2006 that he would seek re-election to the Senate seat he has held since 2001.
The withdrawal was first reported by the Anchorage Daily News.
Cowdery did not return a phone call left at his Anchorage office Thursday. He also has not responded to interview requests since the Senate Minority last month asked for him to resign.
Cowdery is one of six state legislators whose offices were searched by the FBI in August 2006 in the ongoing corruption probe of Alaska politics. He hasn't been charged, and has denied any wrongdoing.
Even after his office was searched, Cowdery still served as Rules Committee chairman last year with the blessing of the Senate Majority - made up of six Republicans and nine Democrats.
Rules chairman is considered the gatekeeper of all legislation that reaches the Senate floor for a vote.
Cowdery had been able to go about his work, relatively unscathed - until the trial of former House Speaker Pete Kott in September.
That's when a former VECO vice president, Rick Smith, testified that Cowdery was among five lawmakers he bribed for favorable influence on oil tax legislation. Smith did not elaborate on his allegation.
That prompted Gov. Sarah Palin and other lawmakers to question whether Cowdery was qualified to continue as the Senate's Rules Committee chairman.
A few days later, Cowdery said he would not participate in the November special session to review oil taxes.
Cowdery said he opted not to attend so he would not be a distraction for other lawmakers as they reviewed the oil tax, which is at the heart of the federal investigators' probe.
He eventually received an excused absence for undisclosed health reasons. He has been repeatedly hospitalized in recent months, including with pneumonia and an infection in his leg.
Cowdery's role as Rules chairman has been subject to debate ever since his appointment last January.
Minority Leader Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, has periodically challenged whether Cowdery should be holding such a powerful position.
Last month, just weeks before the Legislature is to return to Juneau for its regular session, Therriault reprised his argument that Cowdery should resign. The letter was signed by the five Senate Minority members, all Republicans.
Senate President Lyda Green, however, had said because Cowdery has not been charged, it was premature to make any changes.
Cowdery, a retired contractor, is in the final year of a four-year term. He last won in 2004 when he defeated Lynda Zaugg, collecting 52 percent of the vote.
The Republican represents a district that includes a stretch of the Lower Hillside and South Anchorage.
Rep. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage, already had filed to challenge Cowdery.
