Speculation about the political future of state Sen. Robert Regola ended Monday afternoon when he abandoned his run for a second term.

Just one month after he was acquitted of perjury and weapons charges, Regola notified state officials that he was removing his name from the Nov. 4 ballot.

Regola, a Republican from Hempfield, was locked in a battle with Democrat Anthony Bompiani of Youngwood for the seat in the heavily Democratic 39th District.

In a statement e-mailed to media organizations, Regola maintained he could have been re-elected but was “unwilling to put my family, friends and supporters through the type of negative campaign that my opponent would likely conduct.”

He blamed unfair news coverage of the suicide of his neighbor, Louis Farrell, 14, with hurting his chances of being re-elected.
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