Dallas Mayor Resigns Amid Senate Run Speculation

DALLAS (AP) _ Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert has resigned amid speculation that he will run for the U.S. Senate.

Leppert announced his decision at the close of a city council meeting Wednesday. He didn’t address whether he will run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who said last month she is leaving office in 2012 after 19 years.

The decision means Leppert will end his tenure as mayor of the city of nearly 1.3 million four months before the end of his first term. The Republican had previously announced he wouldn’t seek a second term.

The Dallas city charter bars members of the city council from running for other offices while serving.

Leppert will leave office Friday. Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway will be interim mayor.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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