Despite being one of the two frontrunners in a county Republican endorsement convention last week, Gregory Sahd dropped out of the primary for the 13th state Senate District on Monday.

Sahd said in a telephone interview Monday that the inconclusive Jan. 22 convention, in which no candidate received the two-thirds vote needed for endorsement, made him reconsider his campaign, and he is dropping out because he does not want to divide the local party further.

"I firmly believe in the Republican Party unity and how the endorsement process ... has contributed to better local government," he said. "We promote party unity through the (endorsement process)."

Sahd's departure leaves four Republicans in the race for nomination April 22:

• West Lampeter Township supervisor Lloyd Smucker, a former business owner.

• Former Lancaster County Commissioner Chairman Paul Thibault.

• County Recorder of Deeds Steve McDonald.

• Locksmith business owner Bill Neff.

No Democrats are running yet, but local Democratic Committee Chairman Bruce Beardsley has promised one will.

"It must have been a tough decision for Greg," Smucker said. "He put forth a positive vision, and I commend him for his continued dedication to the party."

In a letter to his supporters, Sahd said he was leaving the race to focus on his role with the Government Study Commission, charged with considering changes to the current form of county government. Sahd has opposed making changes.

Sahd actually garnered the most support at the Jan. 22 convention. In the 12th and final round of voting, he had 57 percent support to Smucker's 43 percent among the eligible voters: Republican committee members from the 13th District. He needed 15 more votes to reach the two-thirds threshold for endorsement.

Smucker said he would reach out to the committee members who supported Sahd.

"We share the same approach in a lot of ways," Smucker said.

Neither Thibault nor McDonald would speculate on how Sahd's departure might change the race.

"I haven't thought through all the implications here," Thibault said. "We're just forging ahead."

Neff was not available for comment Monday night.

Sahd said he is unlikely to signal support for any of his former rivals in the primary.

"I'll carefully weigh the candidates and their positions on the issues," he said, "but I don't anticipate endorsing anybody."

As for the committee members who supported him Jan. 22, Sahd said, "They're free to act on their own, say and do as they wish."

The 13th District, represented by retiring state Sen. Gibson E. Armstrong, covers Lancaster city, Manheim Township, southern Lancaster County and a portion of eastern York County.

E-mail: dpidgeon@hotmail.com