BY SARAH ROSS

HILLSBORO- Oregon’s general elections have faced a second unexpected candidate withdrawal with the announcement Tuesday that incumbent candidate David Edwards will not be running for re-election in 2010.

In a press release sent out by the House Democrat’s Future PAC, Edwards cited his wife’s health as his main reason for dropping his bid.

“I’ve struggled with this decision,” Edwards said in Tuesday’s release. “But as much as I want to continue to serve my hometown in the State Legislature, my family must come first.”

Edward’s wife has been suffering from an autoimmune deficiency since 2006 and has shown recent irregularities in her blood work, causing concern for the family.

In the same statement, Edwards announced his support for Banks schoolteacher Doug Ainge to succeed him.

“I feel confident that Doug Ainge would do a great job as the next State Legislator for District 30. Doug is an educator and coach and is well-prepared to take on Salem,” said Edwards.

Soon after Edwards’s announcement, his Republican opponent Shawn Lindsay told the Oregon Politico that his message will not change.

“Regardless of whether I’m running against David Edwards or any other person, my message will remain the same,” stated Lindsay. His message, he said, was to promote job growth and fiscal discipline and to prioritize education.

Lindsay also noted that he didn’t know if he had a better chance running against an incumbent or an unknown.

“Whether or not I have a worse chance or a better chance, it doesn’t matter to me. I’ll just continue working as hard as I can to earn the votes of the voters,” said Lindsay.

Edwards was first elected to his seat in Oregon’s House District 30 in 2006 and has since served on the Legislature’s Joint Ways and Means Committee, as well as the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education and the Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development, which he chairs.

The Hillsboro native is the founder and CEO of a high-tech market and research firm and holds two Master’s Degrees in English Literature and Public Affairs.

As the incumbent, Edwards won his 2008 election by over 4,000 votes over his Republican opponent, Andy Duyck. In 2006, he beat Republican Curry Everett by just over 3,000 votes.

This is the second unexpected withdrawal from House elections this fall. Republican candidate Chael Sonnen withdrew for “personal reasons” late last month. Republicans are expected to choose a candidate to replace the Republican who was running for the seat held by Rep. Scott Bruun, R-West Linn.