Helmke leaving Brady Campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WANE) - Former Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke   is stepping down from his job as president of the Brady Campaign and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence .

Helmke , 62, told NewsChannel 15 Thursday evening that he is not sure what he'll do professionally after he leaves the job July 10. He said he will take some time to decide whether he will return to Fort Wayne full-time or continue to live mainly in the Washington, D.C. area.

As recently as January, Helmke told NewsChannel 15 that he had planned to spend two to three more years leading the Brady Campaign . But in a brief phone conversation Thursday, Helmke said things have changed since then.

He cited a constantly hectic schedule in the wake of January's Tucson, Arizona mass shootings as part of his reason for wanting to step down as president earlier than he had once thought he would.

"I'm tired," Helmke said. "You can't keep going 24/7 all the time."

Even after deciding to leave his role as president, Helmke said he still wanted to stay with the Brady Campaign . He said that he and the organization could not agree on a suitable role, however, so the two sides mutually decided to part ways.

Helmke said he is leaving the organization amicably "with nothing but good feelings" toward the Brady Campaign and its work. He also said it is a natural time for this transition since the five-year commitment he had originally made when he came on board is coming to an end.

Helmke will remain with the group through the end of July to help with the transition, although he will not be president after July 10. He returns to Fort Wayne to rest and look over his options. He said he's considering everything from public service, private work, even teaching.

From 1988 to 2000, Helmke, a Republican , served three terms as mayor of Fort Wayne and had been weighing another run for the office in the 2007 election before accepting the job with the Brady Campaign.

In a news release NewsChannel 15 obtained from the Brady Campaign Thursday, the organization's leaders thanked Helmke for his leadership and credited him with numerous accomplishments.

Among the accomplishments cited were the pursuit of an aggressive media strategy, engaging a new generation of victim advocates in the fight for what the organization considers to be sensible gun laws, and advancing Brady's "assault clips" campaign and targeted district strategy