BRUNSWICK

Nearly two months after becoming the subject of a temporary protection from abuse order and amid pressure from party leaders to drop a re-election bid, House District 66 Rep. Alex Cornell du Houx announced Friday that he will not seek re-election.

In a letter sent to The Times Record, Cornell du Houx wrote that his decision to take on an active duty role in the U.S. Navy will preclude him from running for a third term.

Cornell du Houx wrote that the decision is partly a career move — “I am 29, and realistically it is a challenge to find a career option that works with the legislative schedule” — and that political pressure following the request for a temporary protection order filed against him by Belfast Rep. Erin Herbig played a role in the decision.

In an interview with the Portland Press Herald two weeks ago, Ben Grant, chairman of Maine’s Democratic

Party, urged Cornell du Houx to resign.

“What we do know are the political facts,” Grant said, “and we do know what a distraction is when it comes to an electoral season.”

In a letter to constituents dated June 15 and in a press release responding to Grant’s comments, Cornell du Houx blasted Grant for using a public forum to urge that Cornell du Houx drop his re-election bid and for citing Herbig’s request for a temporary protection order.

“When Maine Democratic Party chairman Ben Grant revisited a private issue that was made public last May, his unnecessary comments reignited false accusations even though I was cleared by the police,” Cornell du Houx wrote in Friday’s letter to The Times Record. “Unfortunately, his unprofessional commentary will impact my re-election.”

The request for that protection order was ultimately dropped after a settlement between Herbig and Cornell du Houx. While the temporary protection order was in place, Cornell du Houx was not able to be in the legislative chambers at the same time as Herbig, requiring him to miss three days of the Legislature’s May session.

Jeffrey Hamm, Cornell du Houx’s attorney, told The Times Record in May that, “It is highly unlikely that there will be any tiebreaker votes and he wants to calm the situation so everyone can focus on working for the people of Maine.”

In the letter announcing his resignation from the House 66 race, Cornell du Houx wrote that he will accept an active duty assignment with the Navy Reserve on Jan. 8, 2013.

“I had requested an active duty date that did not coincide with the legislative session, but no slots were available, so I was assigned to Jan. 8,” he wrote. “I could go through the process and request another date. However, the events of late have given me time to consider the best way to continue in public service while I move forward with my future. I have chosen to take this opportunity to serve my community, state and nation by progressing my career in the Navy.”

He concludes the letter with, “It has truly been an honor to serve you. I hope you will give me another opportunity to represent you in Augusta in the future.”

In a letter sent Friday to The Times Record, Andy Cashman, chairman of the Brunswick Democratic Town Committee, outlined the process for replacing Cornell du Houx.

“By law, the Brunswick Democratic Town Committee must hold a special meeting to select a replacement Democratic candidate for the November ballot,” Cashman wrote. “Before we may do so, the secretary of state must first declare the vacancy, after which we must hold our meeting to select a new candidate prior to July 23. We will hold this meeting as soon as possible upon receipt of the formal vacancy notification from the secretary of state.”

While attendance to that meeting will be open, only residents of District 66 who are a part of the 34- member town committee will take part in the voting to elect a replacement candidate.

Nominations for the position are open, and Cashman said that anyone interested in running for endorsement of the Democratic Party should contact brunswickchair@gmail.com or by phone at 518-8369.

On Thursday, one of Cornell du Houx’s 2010 electoral challengers — Fred Horch — announced his intention to seek the Green Independent Party’s nomination. Local Greens will caucus Saturday at Curtis Memorial Library to select a replacement for David Frans, who withdrew from the race after the June 12 primary.

Republican John Bouchard is slated to represent his party on the November ballot for House District 66.