Dimaggio To Drop Out Of MON House Race

TREETON, MON--Conservative candidate Sharon Dimaggio announced on Wednesday she is dropping out of the race for the House of Delegates.

In a mid-afternoon press conference, Dimaggio told reporters she made the decision with her family in mind.

"Politics is so demanding, and it takes so much time away from you. And I just realized the other day that, you know, I'm 56-years-old, and I have six grand kids, and they need to be able to spend time with Grandma, and I need to be able to spend time with them."

Dimaggio said she contacted the head of the Conservative Party, former delegate Bob Viacrosa, and notified him of her decision to withdraw. She also said she contacted President Byelle and told him personally over the phone.

"I'm very disappointed to hear that Mrs. Dimaggio will not continue in the race for the Monomi House seat," Viacrosa said in a statement to the media. "However, I understand her reasons for doing so and I believe she made the decision with her best interest in mind, and I thoroughly trust her judgment."

Dimaggio faced opposition from members of her own party when she announced three months ago she would run for the Conservative Party nomination for the House. Some Conservatives felt she wasn't popular enough to be elected and, as one source within the party put it, "she ran out of steam." She also came under fire last year from Christian conservatives, who questioned her proclaimed Christian faith.

Dimaggio is no political fledgling. Before entering the national political scene, she previously served as a state representative, senator, and as Secretary of State under then-governor Liz Martinez. She also served as chairwoman of the Monomi Conservative Party for six years. In 2006, Dimaggio ran for the House of Delegates, capturing the CON nomination. She lost in the general election, however; coming in third place after NAT candidate Darren Hafer, and Delegate-elect Willy Locke (DR).

Since her 2006 defeat, Dimaggio has worked as a lobbyist and has toured the country, speaking to conservative groups and organizations. She also founded a new non-profit organization called "Move Monomi Forward" (MMF). MMF's goal, Dimaggio says, is to let the people of Monomi have more say in government.

There are several questions that loom now that Sharon Dimaggio has withdrawn from the race. Chief among them, who her replacement will be for the Conservative nomination. She, as of yet, has faced no opponents in the primary election. That means CON party members are giong to have to recruit someone new. Sources from within the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, say finding a replacement candidate will be easy.

"Sharon Dimaggio was only a mediocre candidate. There are a lot of people out there who could do a much better job, and convincing them is going to be no problem," one source told GNN NEWS.

The list of possible candidates is long. It includes Reps. Jonah Britain, Brooke Burnstein, Cathy De Beers, Carl DeJeck Jr., Lucinda Jones, Tammie Oakes, Mary Olssi, Jacob Skillings, Beau Stevens, and Shannon Tribe.

Another uncertainty now is whether Dimaggio may run for office in the future. There are rumors she may run for governor in 2010, or that she may take over as Chairwoman of the Conservative Party when current chair Bob Viacrosa, who is expected to resign within the next few months, steps down. Dimaggio's office had no comment on her future plans, except that she will continue working with her non-profit foundation, Move Monomi Forward.