Gatto not sure he’ll run again

PALMER — State Rep. Carl Gatto doesn’t hide his fight with cancer.

He was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years before he ran for the Legislature and has battled it all the way through his 10 years there. Radiation treatments, surgery, chemotherapy — he’s done it all. He’s even counseled a few people with similar diagnoses.

“I’m proud that I can help people,” Gatto said.

Unlike in past years, though, Gatto said the cancer is playing a major role in his decision to seek reelection. He said he won’t decide until probably April or May but, frankly, he’s leaning toward bowing out.

“I’d have to be a lot healthier,” Gatto said. “Campaigning is hard work.”

Another major factor in the decision is his wife. Gatto said he knows she will support him no matter what he does, but he also knows her feelings on the matter. She urged him not to run during the last two elections.

“I don’t want to be a disappointment again,” he said.

What better reason is there to quit a job you love, Gatto asked, than to spend some time with a wonderful woman?

Gatto spoke Tuesday while in town receiving radiation treatment. Some tumors in his body are growing. Since he’s been out of Juneau, Gatto has been kept in the loop with legislative goings on with his staff and watching hearings on television.

“I’m about sick of ‘Gavel to Gavel’ by now,” he joked, referencing the service that televises legislative meetings.

In his absence, he said rumors have been flitting through the Legislature. Some have said he lost his chairmanship of the House Judiciary Committee. Others say he’s about to call it quits. His favorite:

“The leadership sent me home,” Gatto said.

Which is both untrue and, probably, impossible, he said.

Gatto said he still has his seat running the judiciary committee. The co-chair is filling in running meetings and another representative has stepped up to fill his seat temporarily so there are seven committee members rather than six.

Gatto said he’s excited about his bills this session. His measure to divest state investment in Iran, he noted, sailed through some of its committee hearings recently.

He said he hates being away from it all, but had to come back to Southcentral to get cancer treatments — what he needs is simply not available in Juneau.

“It’s another reason why the capital ought to be where the population is,” he said.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.