Giffords’ aide to run in special election

FILE - This Jan. 23, 2012 file photo shows U.S. Rep Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., touring the Gabrielle Giffords Family Assistance Center, one of her favorite charities, with her staffer Ron Barber in Tucson, Ariz. Barber, a top aide to former Congresswoman Giffords, is expected announce his candidacy to run in a special election to serve as an interim replacement for the Arizona Democrat who was wounded in a shooting rampage a year ago. (AP Photo/Matt York, Pool, File)

PHOENIX — A top aide to former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who was shot in the leg and face in the Tucson rampage that also left the congresswoman severely wounded announced Thursday that he will seek to replace her in a special election.

Democrat Ron Barber declared he would run to serve the last six months of Giffords’ term. He said Giffords and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, asked him to run.

Barber was Giffords’ district director and worked with her since 2006. The election to fill Giffords’ 8th Congressional District seat in Arizona is set for the spring.

He said he has not decided whether to run for a full term in the November election.