Former Republican Rep. Nancy Wagner said she will not seek re-election to the seat she lost to Democratic challenger Rep. Darryl Scott last November.
On the heels of Wagner’s decision, Dover attorney and former Kent County Levy Court Commissioner Ron Smith said he will try to oust Scott in 2010.
Smith, however, first will have to beat another Dover lawyer, Ron Poliquin, in a Republican primary.
Wagner previously said she would run again for the 31st District seat, which encompasses most of North Dover, but took some time to make up her mind.
She also said she doesn’t feel it would be worth it to head back to House of Representatives, since the state’s tight financial situation means there’s no money available to start new programs.
“I’ve worked on the issues of the General Assembly for a long time, and I was able to be creative and come up with solutions, but sometimes that involves a little bit of money and you can’t do that now. That makes it very difficult to solve problems.” She said.
“It’s not going to get any better any time soon, so I just decided I didn’t want to work on those same issues if I couldn’t be creative and come up with solutions.”
Smith, a partner in the law firm of Hudson, Jones, Jaywork & Fisher, said he was waiting for Wagner to finalize her decision before choosing to run, a courtesy the former representative is grateful for.
“I really appreciated that, and it just got the point where I decided what I was going to do something else,” she said.
In endorsing Smith, who served on Levy Court for 15 years and has been a House attorney since 1982, Wagner took a thinly veiled swipe at Poliquin, whose only brush with public office was an unsuccessful bid for state treasurer in 2004.
“I’m very pleased Ron Smith said he’s interested in running, I think you need someone with experience to get down there,” she said.
Smith said he’s happy to have Wagner’s backing, and he thinks Poliquin is out of his league.
“I’m hoping that with the broad base of support we have, Ron will rethink running for the office,” he said. “Mr. Poliquin I don’t think will have that broad support.”
Poliquin, an attorney with Young, Malberg & Howard, said he’s not worried about taking on an established Kent County political figure, be it Wagner or Smith.
“I think next year’s voters will be seeking a fresh voice,” he said. “I think no matter what, the 31st voters are looking for new leaders and leaders who are more forward thinking. Our approach hasn’t changed. They’re going to be looking for someone new, not part of the establishment.”
Email Doug Denison at doug.denison@doverpost.com
