DOE Secretary decides to privatize self

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson says he intends to take a break from public life after President Clinton's administration ends in January, the Associated Press reported.

"I want to pursue, at least for a short period of time, a little bit of a breather away from public life. But I certainly intend to return to public life," Richardson said in an interview published last week in the Santa Fe New Mexican.

He said he would not decide immediately whether to run for governor of New Mexico in 2002. "I believe that New Mexicans are tired of campaigns right now, and I don't want to have a two-year governor's race," he said.

Asked if he will accept a Cabinet position if Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore wins next month's election, Richardson said, "I hope to assist President Gore as citizen Richardson."