Editor, Gazette-Journal:

I am writing to advise the citizens of Mathews County of my decision to withdraw my candidacy for Commonwealth’s Attorney. While I remain steadfast in my belief that I am the best person qualified to fill this office, I am withdrawing because the possibility of the incumbent winning due to a divided opposition vote is unacceptable. For me, the primary mission of this election and my candidacy is to bring new leadership and energy back to the office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney. This is imperative if we are to turn back the scourge of hard drugs and preserve our Mathews way of life. In order for this transformation to occur, there needs to be a single challenger with a unified vote base. My withdrawal accomplishes this.

In a three-man race, the number of votes necessary to win can fall as low as 34 percent and the incumbent gains a huge advantage as the votes against him are split between the challengers. He could win even though two out of e...