by Ron Gregory
ronjgregory@gmail.com
WAYNE — Democrats hope to retake the legislative majorities they lost in 2014 after 83 years of party rule, but those chances are likely not enhanced by incumbent legislators who decide not to seek re-election.
Delegate Don Perdue, who represents the 19th District from Wayne County, announced on social media yesterday that the upcoming 2016 legislative session “my last.”
Perdue called his decision “difficult.” He went on, “after 18 years I could cite any number of reasons but it really boiled down to simple math. Over those 18 years, only about 14 have been spent fully with my family. Erin and Sean and their families and especially Mary Jo deserve more.”
The delegate concluded, “I will miss being your delegate but I genuinely look forward to that time when I can be just a husband, a father and a grandfather … and a neighbor, once again.”
Perdue said he would make a formal announcement of his retirement today (Friday, December 11).