Chacon Announces Retirement After 22-Year Assembly Career

Eight years after he first suggested he was considering retirement, Assemblyman Pete Chacon (D-San Diego) announced Tuesday that he will end his 22-year career when his term expires this fall.

The 66-year-old lawmaker faced a potentially tough June primary battle against fellow Democratic Assemblyman Steve Peace because of redistricting.

Chacon released a two-page statement saying he had decided to step down to spend more time with his family. “I’ve decided that it’s time for me to be a full-time husband and father and to simply enjoy life,” he said.

In recent years, Chacon has been vague about his plans. His gradual severing of ties to San Diego--notably, by making his primary home in Placerville, near Sacramento--also fostered an impression in some quarters that his interest in the job was waning.

Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) dispatched two of his top political operatives to help Chacon in his 1990 contest in the 79th District. But it appeared that the Speaker was nudging Chacon toward retirement when he predicted last month that Chacon and Peace would avoid a primary battle in the reconfigured district.

The Speaker’s comments caused rumors to spread that a deal had been made for Chacon to retire to give Peace an open seat. Both men denied that such a deal had been made.

Neither Chacon nor Peace could be reached for comment Tuesday.