A Gorham legislator whose management of town money while he was Buxton recreation director is under investigation by Buxton police will not seek re-election this fall.

“It has been a challenging time personally for my family, and I recognize that recent matters involving my professional career will be a distraction to Maine voters during what should be an especially positive and exciting election season for our state,” Rep. Chris Barstow, D-Gorham, said Monday.

Democrats moved quickly to find a replacement for Barstow, a three-term legislator and Gorham native who was elected when he was just 25. Dennis Ela, a 58-year-old retired educator, announced Tuesday he would seek the Democratic nomination for Barstow’s seat, House District 129, which will be decided at a Democratic caucus that has not yet been scheduled.

Barstow’s announcement came two weeks after he resigned as director of the Buxton Recreation Department, when an accountant for the town found what he described as “mismanagement” practices, including personal use of a town credit card, postage machine and cell phone, in an audit of the department’s finances.

After meeting with Barstow three weeks ago, the accountant, Ron Smith, and Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Jean Harmon turned information over to the police, who are now investigating the matter. Police Chief Jody Thomas said Monday the investigation was continuing. She predicted it would last several weeks.

Barstow has admitted to making some “poor choices as an administrator,” but has said he did nothing criminal. Barstow has hired Portland lawyer Jon Gale, of the firm Germani & Riggle, to represent him.

Barstow had been under the scrutiny of the Buxton Board of Selectmen since the fall of 2006, when an auditor’s report discovered accounting problems in the Recreation Department. As time went on, and both the auditor and selectmen worked with Barstow, the financial problems appeared to get worse. Finally, in May, the auditor submitted a letter to selectmen in which he said there was “mismanagement” of town money.

He cited Barstow’s inconsistent practices for depositing money for the department, unauthorized use of a town credit card to purchase gas for a personal vehicle, unauthorized use of the town postage machine, and personal use of a town cell phone after being told to cease the practice.

This week, legislators in both parties who served with Barstow spoke highly of his work ethic and commitment to constituents, and said his departure from public office would be a loss to Gorham.

Another young legislator from Gorham, Sen. Phil Phil Bartlett, D-Cumberland County, described the whole scenario as “really unfortunate.”

“Chris has been an outstanding representative,” he said, adding that he “worked tirelessly.” Bartlett thought Barstow’s decision to bow out early in the campaign cycle was good, as it will give the next candidate some time to campaign.

“Chris did a great job as a legislator,” said House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven. She said it’s extremely tough to be a young legislator, especially with a family.

“I think he’s made the best decision for himself and his family,” Pingree said.

Barstow, 30, has a wife and three young children, including a set of twins. In an interview Monday, he cited a commitment to his family as another reason for his decision not to seek re-election.

“At this time, I’m entering back into private life and trying to be the best father and husband I can be,” he said.

Barstow said he would finish his term and vowed to serve constituents to the best of his ability until it was complete. The House chairman of the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government, Barstow estimated he has sponsored about 50 bills in his three terms.

Among highlights of his legislative service, he pointed to a bill to help young adults up to age 25 to be eligible for more affordable, quality health care, which he believed helped lower the rates for everyone. He also said he worked behind the scenes to support the Dirigo Health program.

Barstow said he was also proud of his work supporting education. “We increased education funding for Gorham by several million dollars,” said Barstow, adding it helped stabilize property tax rates.

He also introduced a grant program for regional cooperation and an informed growth act, a bill making accurate information available to communities regarding large-scale retail development. He said that bill was good for small businesses, the economy and environment.

“The No. 1 focus as a legislator was to ensure that government worked in a cost-effective manner,” said Barstow, who said he felt he was able to work effectively with Republicans.

Rep. Donald Marean, R-Hollis, said Barstow “worked hard at the State House. He was there all the time. He took his work very seriously.”

Barstow was first elected to Legislature in 2002, when he defeated Calvin Hamblen, then a Gorham town councilor and a former Republican legislator. Although a Gorham native, Barstow said Monday he had met new people and made new friends in his initial campaign for Legislature.

“I worked as hard as I could in that campaign,” Barstow said Monday. “I felt good about that.”

In subsequent elections, Barstow defeated Republicans Bob Reynolds in 2004 and Harold Freeman in 2006. He did not rule out the possibility that he might run for public office again in the future.

Barstow described his opportunity to serve in Legislature as rare. “I tried as hard as I could to serve,” he said.

Barstow announced his decision not to seek re-election a day before the June primary. His name was still on the ballot Tuesday.

Kate Simmons, House caucus director for the Maine Democratic Party, said the secretary of state will need to declare that a replacement candidate be nominated. That should happen within the next few days, Simmons said, then a caucus should be held within two weeks of the declaration.

Ela will be up for official nomination at the caucus, but the nomination is open to any other Democrat in District 129 who wants to run against Republican Jane Knapp for Barstow’s seat. All Democratic voters in District 129 will be invited to participate in the caucus.

Ela said he had been thinking of running for a House seat for some time. He has more than three decades of experience as an educator in Maine. He retired in 2004 as the middle school principal in Waterboro.

Amid probe, legislator steps down