I regret to inform you that I am withdrawing as a candidate for the 36th District House of Delegates seat. I personally made it to the doors of 2094 homes in the district. Talking to those of you behind those doors has been by far the most satisfying part of my campaign.

When I entered this campaign, I knew it would be a lot of work, but I didn't truly understand the all-consuming demands of running for public office. As I went door-to-door, attended events, made phone calls, and all the other things that candidates must do, I came to the conclusion that I simply could not meet the demands on my time, my job, or my personal financial situation. I realized that the requirements would only become greater as we approached election day, and I could not realistically make the necessary commitment for a Republican to win this seat in 2009.

I want to express my humble gratitude and heart-filled thanks to those of you who supported me and those of you who volunteered for my campaign, some beyond the call of duty. Your hard work, passion, and dedication was truly inspiring to me and I will be forever grateful. You have my pledge that I will continue to be an active member of the Republican Party and look forward to supporting all of our nominees this Fall.

If you made a contribution after 31 July, and would like it returned, please e-mail me at mark@whitedfordelegate.com. In fact, you can e-mail me at that address for any comment you may have.

I want to thank all the countless people that have helped me in this effort. 

Sincerely... Mark