Republican state Sen. Val Stevens of Arlington will not seek re-election and Rep. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, said today he will run for the seat.
Stevens is in her 20th year in the Legislature. She won a House seat in 1992 and served two terms before getting elected to the Senate in 1996. She is in her fourth term.
Her decision is not a total surprise. She has been pondering her political future for several months and not raised any money for a campaign. Late last year, she said she would announce her plans at the end of regular session – then delayed an announcement until the end of special session.
Pearson has known of Stevens’ intentions but as a courtesy waited for her to make them public. This week he asked her if he could go forward because he wanted to let supporters know at a number of upcoming Republican events.
“She told me it was okay,” Pearson said. “I think it’s a great opportunity. I think I can represent my district well in that position.”
Pearson, 53, is in his sixth term in the House of Representatives and is the ranking Republican on the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
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