Local Party Leaders Urge Condit to Retire

Democratic leaders who have long remained silent on the political future of Rep. Gary Condit are now urging him to retire.

Party leaders in Merced and San Joaquin counties say they no longer support Condit, whose popularity plunged in the scandal over the disappearance of Washington intern Chandra Levy.

Robert Haden, chairman of the Merced County Democratic Central Committee, said he was inspired to write to Condit after learning that the congressman had begun collecting signatures to put his name on the March ballot.

“I assumed that he realized his ability to be reelected and to continue his political career had ended or at least was seriously jeopardized,” Haden said.