Gear retires

Del. Tom Gear, whose 91st House of Delegates district covers the city of Poquoson plus parts of Hampton and York County, has resigned effective today, citing health problems.

Gear said his own battle with multiple sclerosis has made spending two months a year shuttling between the Peninsula and Richmond too much of a effort. Gear had become increasingly unstable on his feet in recent years and stumbled and fell a number of times during last year’s session.

“I don’t think that I have the stamina or the energy to do it anymore,” Gear said. “I’m afraid I’ll fall again and really hurt myself.”

While Gear and I agreed on little, we do both hail from the same part of town – Phoebus – so I’m sadded to learn that it is his health that has brought his career to an end. I wish him and his family – his wife and sister are both battling cancer – the best.

UPDATE: Well, that didn’t take long. Chris Stuart, who was just elected to Hampton City Council in May, is running for the seat.