Danny Gilmore (R-Hanford) was rumored to be retiring for a while. Today, he actually endorsed a potential successor, pretty much making the decision final.

“I have dedicated my life to public service as a U.S. marine, an assistant chief with the California Highway Patrol and now as an elected official,” he said in a press release Tuesday morning. “If I could sum up in one word my feeling about serving in the Legislature, that word would have to be frustration.

“This most recent phase of public service does not suit my family or me. Simply put, I do not have the temperament or personality to be a long-term politician.” (Bakersfield Californian)

He endorsed David Valadao, a businessman, to replace him. As I’ve heard, Gilmore was simply not happy in Sacramento.

Gilmore narrowly defeated Fran Florez in 2008, and was a Democratic (sort of) seat for a long time before that. So this is likely to be a highly contested race come this fall.