He said he's inclined to donate any unused balance to charity. I can't run for anything. I can't convert it for personal use. In fact, Mr. Kirk could run for other offices. He says he's just not interested.
State law gives former candidates and officeholders six years to dispose of leftover campaign funds.
The money cannot be used to run for Congress or Senate or president, or for any statewide or local judgeship. Mr. Kirk couldn't pay off his mortgage or buy a sports car or put his daughters through college. But he could use it to run for the Texas Legislature, district attorney, county commissioner, constable, justice of the peace, school board or any statewide nonfederal job, such as governor, lieutenant governor or attorney general. Texas Democrats have tried to woo Mr. Kirk into a statewide campaign, without success. The mayor has joked for years about running for school board, but friends and analysts expect him to return to his former professions, lawyer and lobbyist.