Amy Frederick, the wife of ousted state Republican Party Chairman Jeffrey M. Frederick, has decided not to run for the Prince William County House of Delegates seat that her husband is vacating.
"Today, it is with mixed emotions that I announce my withdrawal from the race to succeed Jeff in the House of Delegates," Amy Frederick wrote in an e-mail to supporters and news organizations.
"Unfortunately, some in the leadership of the Republican Party have demonstrated a greater interest in playing politics than in advancing our conservative principles and making life better for the families and the citizens of Virginia," she states.
She also lashed out at House Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford.
"I'm not interested in running for office to serve under broken leadership, where the speaker compromises principle for what he perceives as immediate political gain."
Amy Frederick clashed with Howell in 2008 when he supported former Lt. Gov. John H. Hager as party chairman over her husband. Jeff Frederick upset Hager at the state GOP convention to win the four-year, unpaid post.
By a vote of 57-18, GOP leaders this month ousted Frederick as state party chairman. It was the culmination of a squabble between the old-school party stalwarts and the grass-roots conservatives who backed him.
The state leaders said Frederick, 33, did not work well with national party leaders during the presidential campaign and could not muster the financial support from traditional party backers to position the GOP to make a strong showing in November.
Before the ouster, Frederick had announced that he would not seek re-election to his seat in the House. Frederick has indicated that he could challenge the party to regain his job at the state GOP convention in Richmond next month.
Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or jnolan@timesdispatch.com.
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