VIDALIA &8212; Andy Magoun officially pulled his name out of the hunt for the vacant House of Representatives District 21 seat Tuesday.

Magoun, assistant district attorney for the Seventh Judicial District, serving Concordia and Catahoula parishes, said his current duties are worth too much to give up.

&8220;I will not be running for the vacated seat for State Representative,&8221; Magoun said. &8220;I&8217;ve researched the issue of whether I could be an assistant DA and in the state Legislature and based upon a Louisiana Attorney General&8217;s opinion I would have to resign my position. I enjoy my job way to much to make that move at this point in my career.&8221;

The house seat became vacant after the June 30, exit of Bryant Hammett. Hammett served in the position since 1992 and left the office a year shy of reaching term limit. He accepted a job overseeing the spending of over $1 billion on the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans and south Louisiana.

&8220;I think it would be an honor to serve as a representative for this district and I thank all who have pledged their support to me if I decided to become a candidate,&8221; Magoun said.

Ferriday Chief of Police Richard Madison, Andy Anders, Glen McGlothin and Buddy Spillers, all Ferriday residents, have officially announced plans to run.

The position covering East Carroll, Tensas, Madison and Concordia will be filled after the Sept. 30 election. Economic development, education, health care and infrastructure are all areas candidates feel important.

Magoun follows Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland in declining to run for the position.