A Chillicothe Republican has pulled out of the race for the soon-to-be vacant 7th House of Representatives District.

Dale Wallace, who retires as the Chillicothe R-II School District superintendent on June 30, filed earlier this year to fill the seat that the term-limited Rep. John Quinn, R-Chillicothe, now occupies.

But he told the News-Press Wednesday he’s changed his mind.

“It’s not a business I wish to be in,” Mr. Wallace said.

He was set to challenge fellow co-worker and Republican Mike Lair in the August primary.

Mr. Lair is a history teacher at Chillicothe High School and had raised more campaign money than his superior, according to the most recent quarterly campaign financial disclosure reports.

Democrat Harry Wyse, owner of Chillicothe Bootery and Shoe Repair, also is seeking the 7th House District seat.

As of the April reports, Mr. Wallace had raised $11,395 with $9,722 remaining, while

Mr. Lair had raised $47,303 with $38,986 on hand.

Mr. Wyse had raised $6,350 with $2,358 remaining.

“The amount of money you have to raise to run a successful campaign seems pretty exorbitant,” Mr. Wallace said.

He told the News-Press he had made no plans after his summer retirement and wouldn’t endorse either of the remaining candidates.

As of Wednesday afternoon, he was still an active candidate with the Missouri Secretary of State’s office.

He said he mailed in withdrawal papers Tuesday and his action should become official within the week.

He e-mailed more comments on his decision to back out of the race to the News-Press early this afternoon.

Below is the text from the announcement:

Dale Wallace, Republican candidate for the 7th District Missouri House of Representatives seat has announced he is withdrawing from the race. Wallace filed on February 26th, the first day of the filing period in Jefferson City and to the extent his job would allow had been campaigning ever since. However for the past month, Wallace states that doubts have arisen as to his desire to continue.

"I have come to a slow conclusion over the past few weeks that I'm simply not cut out for politics. I very sincerely felt I was to begin with but have lost my desire to attempt to raise from, the 7th District residents, the tens of thousands of dollars necessary to conduct the type of campaign necessary to be successful in August and then do it all over again in November. I have become dismayed at the process one must endure in an effort to win. I want to thank those of you that made contributions and offers of help. I know that I'm disappointing and letting some people down, but please accept my apology and understand that it wouldn't be fair to you or the entire 7th District to continue". Contributors have received a letter from Wallace and their contribution has been returned.

Wallace retires June 30, 2008 as the Superintendent of Schools for the Chillicothe R-II School District following 34 years in public education.