Rep. David Dreier won’t seek reelection

La Cañada Flintridge’s longtime Rep. David Dreier (R-San Dimas) announced Wednesday that he will not run for reelection this fall.

Dreier, one of California’s most influential Republicans in Congress, has served in the House since 1981. For nine of the last 13 years, he has been chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee.

Dreier announced his retirement on the floor of the House of Representatives.

“My decision has been a deliberative one,” he said. “Three years ago I contemplated leaving at the end of the previous Congress, but I ultimately chose to seek reelection for the sake of pursuing four key objectives.”

In his statement, Dreier listed his goals as: reducing non-defense spending, passing free-trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, enhancing national security and ensuring that both parties can propose amendments on the House floor. He said he plans to spend the rest of his term working toward greater bipartisan progress in these areas.

La Cañada Mayor David Spence said he was sorry to hear that Dreier would not seek reelection.

“He’s been extremely supportive and very open to listen to all the issues that we have had to discuss with him,” Spence said. “I’m very sad to hear that he’s going to retire, because he’s got such a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be missed very sincerely by the Congress.”

Dreier represents California’s 26th District, which includes La Cañada but is based in eastern foothill cities including Claremont, Upland and Rancho Cucamonga. Last year the California Citizens Redistricting Commission redrew the maps so that Dreier’s San Dimas home would be in the new 32nd District, which includes cities on the valley floor such as West Covina and El Monte, but it would no longer come as far west as La Cañada.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Dreier’s decision was likely motivated by the challenges he would face in winning reelection in the redrawn district.

Spence said that in recent years Dreier had helped La Cañada acquire state funds that allowed the city to finally move forward on its plan to install sound walls and reduce freeway noise for residents, and that his track record on transportation in general was something to be proud of.

“In the region he’s done a tremendous amount for the San Gabriel Valley,” Spence said.

“He worked in a lot of transportation issues for the region, and those also benefit La Cañada.”