Posted: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 12:00 am
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - John Ramsey, father of slain 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey, announced his candidacy for the Michigan state House on Tuesday, saying his loss had given him "a compassion to lead."
"Borne out of the tragedy of the loss of our daughter, JonBenet, I have been given a platform - one that I did not seek, and if I could reverse the events of that night, I would give everything to do so," Ramsey said during a rally in Charlevoix, where he lives.
"But my task I believe, is to use that platform for good."
Ramsey acknowledged that some people might continue to suspect him or his wife, Patsy, in JonBenet's death. He said some doubters never will be convinced of the Ramseys' innocence even if the killer is caught.
"That is the way the world works, we cannot let that intimidate us," he told a cheering crowd of at least 100 supporters who gathered in a parking garage adjacent to his wife's new business, a Web site development and promotion company.
"I cannot let evil win, our family will go on with its life."
Ramsey filed to run for the open seat Tuesday, the last day to file for the Aug. 3 primary election.
Ramsey's family moved to Charlevoix last fall from the Atlanta area, where they lived after leaving Colorado.
Ramsey was to appear Wednesday on CNN's "Larry King Live," ABC's "Good Morning America" and NBC's "The Today Show."
The Ramsey family became the focus of intense media scrutiny after their daughter, JonBenet, was found dead in the basement of the family's Boulder, Colo., home in December 1996. No one has been charged.