Bono’s Widow Begins Run For Late Husband’s Congress Seat

Mary Bono, the widow of Rep. Sonny Bono, declared her candidacy Thursday to succeed her late husband in Congress, tiptoeing into the contest via news release.

“Prior to reaching this decision, I had many in-depth discussions with my family and close friends,” she said in a seven-paragraph statement faxed to reporters. “We all agreed that Sonny would have encouraged me to continue his work. I want to do that.”

Bono, making her first try at public office, is expected to have the Republican field to herself.

Her studiously low-key entry into the race was unusual. Typically, a candidate will hold a news conference in hopes of launching a campaign with a burst of publicity.

But the 36-year-old widow of the celebrity congressman, who died in a Jan. 5 skiing accident that drew international attention, hardly needs to boost her name recognition.

At the same time, by avoiding questions, the political newcomer may have sought to avert the sort of stumbles that marked her late husband’s first run for federal office, an unsuccessful 1992 U.S. Senate bid in which he revealed a poor grasp of issues.

A friend who handled Bono’s announcement denied she wished to duck questions. “Those things will happen Feb. 2,” said Mark Matthews, referring to a series of appearances Bono intends to make across the district, which stretches from the outskirts of Riverside, Calif., to the Arizona border. “She’s qualified and prepared to do this.”

In the meantime, Bono said in her statement, she plans to focus on family matters and a memorial service planned in Washington next week.

She married Sonny Bono in February 1986, two years after they met at his West Hollywood restaurant, where she had gone to celebrate her graduation as a University of Southern California art history major. The couple had two children.

On the Democratic side, actor Ralph Waite - “Pa Walton” of the old TV series - has sent strong signals that he intends to challenge Bono. Mark Nichols, chief executive of the Cabazon band of Mission Indians, appears more uncertain about the race.

An April 7 primary has been scheduled to fill the seat vacated by the death of Bono, first elected in 1994.