Citing frustration in trying to work with the administration of Gov. John Baldacci, Rep. Gary Moore, R-Standish, ended his re-election bid Tuesday.

It was a decision that surprised his opponent, Democrat Mike Shaw, and disappointed House Minority Leader Rep. Josh Tardy, R-Newport.

“It’s kind of a complicated thing,” Moore said Tuesday. “Essentially I have found dealing with Gov. Baldacci’s administration to be a hopeless endeavor. Two more years of attempting to do that seemed pointless.”

Moore will finish his third two-year term in House District 102, covering most of Standish. He plans to stay involved in politics, working to help re-elect Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, as well as working on the presidential campaign of John McCain and Sarah Palin.

“I think that is where my energy is going to be more helpful to everyone,” Moore said.

Moore, who retired in 2005 as superintendent for School Administrative District 13, encompassing the area around and in Bingham, said he decided to pull out of the race in mid-September and officially ended the campaign Tuesday.

“There was no one thing. It was just overall,” Moore said. “In the scheme of things, it was almost inevitable.”

Shaw, Moore’s opponent, said the withdrawal will not affect his campaign.

“I’m going to campaign like I have been,” Shaw said. “I’m still going to get out and talk with people. That’s the best thing I can continue to do.” Shaw said he campaigns door-to-door in Standish nearly every day.

Two years ago, Moore was just barely re-elected, beating Shaw in a recount by six votes. After the recount, election supervisors found they had more ballots than registered voters, Shaw said, and offered to hold another election. He turned down the special election because of the cost to the town and the fact that many fewer voters would participate in a second election.

While the ballots were counted and recounted, Moore worked as a reporter for what was the Lakes Region Suburban Weekly.

Moore withdrew from the race after the July 14 deadline to be replaced by the Republican Party with another candidate on the ballot. He also withdrew after the Sept. 5 deadline to have his name removed from the ballot.

Tardy said he was disappointed from a party and personal standpoint, as he had expected the district to remain in Republican hands for the next term.

Tardy was still trying to contact Moore Wednesday, but said he did not have any indication Moore was so dissatisfied he would withdraw.

“This has an adverse effect on the right of district citizens to choose,” Tardy said.

Because of the timing of Moore’s withdrawal, Tardy said attempting to launch a write-in campaign “is not a productive exercise.”

Tardy remains optimistic Republicans can gain seats in the House in November, citing close elections in 2006 where Republicans lost seats by about a total of 1,400 votes statewide.

Of 151 members in the House, currently 90 are Democrats and 57 are Republicans.

“I recognize that public service is a commitment that takes a lot out of people,” Tardy said. “I enjoyed working with Gary. We came into the legislature together and I wish him nothing but the best.”

For all of his six years in the House, Moore served on the Legal and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. He also opposed the sale or lease of the state liquor business to a private company and worked to get the administration to reign in the salaries of upper level management positions in the University of Maine system.

“Things pile up one after the other after the other,” Moore said.

Rep. Gary Moore, R-Standish, ended his re-election bid Tuesday, saying his frustration with the administration of Gov. John Baldacci led him to conclude his energy was better spent elsewhere.Mike Shaw, who lost to Rep. Gary Moore, R-Standish, by six votes in 2006, said Moore’s withdrawl from this year’s race will not stop him from campaigning door-to-door until the election in November.