After receiving both local and national encouragement to challenge U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, for Ohio's 18th Congressional District, state Sen. Jimmy Stewart, R-Albany, said Wednesday that he does not expect to run for the seat.

"œI haven't sent out a press release, but I most likely will not be running," Stewart said.
Stewart said previously that he had met with the National Republican Congressional Committee earlier this year about a potential run for the seat.

The 18th District includes a long stretch of eastern and southeast Ohio, including the northern part of Athens County. Space hails from Tuscarawas County, south of Canton. Stewart, from Albany, actually lives in the 6th district and not the 18th. He didn't say whether this contributed to his decision not to run. Stewart also said he would not be running for the 6th District seat held by U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-St. Clairsville, which represents the rest of Athens County, including Athens, Albany and Nelsonville.

"I don't anticipate running for Congress next year," Stewart said. "It's a difficult decision, but I'm going to leave it up to someone else."

Jeanette Moll, who ran unsuccessfully in the 2008 GOP primary for the 18th District seat, is an announced candidate for the seat in 2010. A former magistrate judge in Guernsey County, Moll now has a private law practice in Zanesvlle. She has been sending out regular e-mail press releases attacking Rep. Space, President Barack Obama and the Democratic leadership in Congress.