PROVO — The anticipated wrestling match between five-term Rep. Chris Cannon, Utah Sen. Curt Bramble and millionaire John Jacob for the Republican nomination in the 3rd Congressional District won't happen.

Bramble, R-Provo, announced Monday on an unofficial Senate blog that he has decided not to run against Cannon. He also told the Deseret Morning News that he no longer will serve as Cannon's campaign treasurer.

The decision leaves Jacob alone to challenge Cannon within the party unless another candidate emerges before the March 17 filing deadline. The state Republican convention is May 13.

Bramble felt there was too much unfinished business left over from the recently completed Legislative session and that the timing was not right for his family.

The chief reason, he said in his blog statement, "is the need to see tax reform through to an acceptable conclusion."

To see the entire short statement, visit www.senatesite.com/blog.

Family considerations were also a major issue. Bramble has six children, a granddaughter and another grandchild on the way. His oldest son is about to start graduate school and another son is scheduled to be Bramble's legislative intern next year, fulfilling a decade-old dream. His youngest child is 11.

"It would be a lot easier for us (to run for Congress) if our kids were just a little bit older," Bramble said.

He stepped down as Cannon's treasurer a few weeks ago, but the job is staying within the same company for which Bramble works. Lynn Gilbert, one of the partners at Gilbert and Stewart, is the new treasurer.

"About a year and a half ago it became apparent because Chris has such a high profile and I have attracted a lot of media attention that he needed a treasurer who was not quite as engaged politically. I've known Chris and we've been friends for 15 or 20 years. I still consider him a friend."

Bramble also said he recently accepted an offer from Cannon's brother and chairman of the Utah Republican Party, Joe Cannon, to serve again as credentials chair at the state GOP convention.

"Taking a leadership role in convention and organizing the convention precludes me from weighing in for any candidate or being a candidate myself," Bramble said.

Bramble is known for tough plainspokenness but earned praise from several sources last week for being less combative during the Legislative session. Did he attend anger management classes, as Deseret Morning News political columnist Frank Pignanelli suggested in Sunday's paper?

"No," he said. "I don't know that I've changed my style at all. Maybe people are getting more used to someone willing to tell it like it is. Maybe there's been some tempering. Maybe it's taken a while to gain some legislative maturity."

Bramble said that if he had run for Congress, he would have resigned his Senate seat. He has two years left in his term.

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com