Weldon, R-Ringgold, said this afternoon that he felt he was spread too thin between his work in the legislature and his law practice. His withdrawal means that Dewayne Hill is the only registered candidate for the District 3 representative seat in the May 24 primary.
"It's pretty difficult to go down and serve and maintain a law practice and do the things I need to do," Weldon said. "I'm going to let Dewayne Hill have it. I'm withdrawing from the race. I expect to do that in the next couple of weeks."
Weldon qualified to run for re-election March 7, but he said he had been thinking about ending his political career for several months. He ultimately made the decision later last week.
Hill registered to challenge Weldon on Friday - the last day to qualify for the primary race. While Hill was in Atlanta to fill out his paperwork, Weldon said he informed him that he would be withdrawing. He isn't sure whether Hill had already heard the rumors.
"We just talked about the things it takes (to be a state representative)," Weldon said of his conversation with Hill last week. "Different things. It's challenging work. There's a lot of reading, a lot things to do. It's a great job. But it's tought, and it doesn't pay a whole lot of money."
Weldon has served in the legislature since 2009. He is also the son of Dr. Darrell Weldon, a member of the Hutcheson Medical Center board, and he is the hospital's attorney in its federal lawsuits against Erlanger Health System.
Hill, meanwhile, was a Catoosa County Commissioner from 2007-14. He lost a re-election bid to Ray Johnson two years ago by 27 votes.
Hill is also a cousin of State Rep. David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, the speaker of the house. Hill said his grandmother was a Ralston, but he and the speaker do not know each other well. Hill said he never met Ralston until he visited the capitol as a member of the Catoosa County commission.