Publisher's note: We have just received information that the blog originating in Dare County, Eye on Dare, is reporting that incumbent Washington County Democrat Tim Spear will not seek re-election to the North Carolina House of Representatives. This is important to Beaufort County residents since Rep. Spear would have to run against incumbent District 6 representative, and Beaufort County Representative, Bill Cook. This has all become quite confusing since redistricting this past Summer.

    Citing personal and family reasons, Second District State Representative Tim Spear told about 250 Democratic Party faithfuls today that he will not run for re-election next year. Spear made his announcement at the Dare County Democratic Party's 2012 Election Kick-Off party at Kelly's Restaurant in Nags Head.

    A retired Clerk of Superior Court in Washington County, Spear has served 3.5 terms in the state legislature and was originally appointed to the position in January 2006 to replace William "Bill" Cullpepper of Chowan County who had resigned in order to accept a seat on the state utilities commission.
House Representative Tim Spear
    Spear is the second area legislator to make such a decision as he joins First District State Representative Bill Owens of Elizabeth City who is ending his ninth term in the legislature. Owens also recently announced his decision not to run for re-election. Both Spear and Owens received considerable criticism from the local and state democratic party loyalists this year when they voted, along with three other House Democrats to override Governor Beverly Perdue's veto of the Republican budget. Neither Owens or Spear would say whether that played into their decision. Both legislators were strong allies of State Senator Marc Basnight who resigned from office in January, for health reasons, after serving 26 years in Raleigh.