House Dems lose two more

The House Democratic caucus, still reeling from the past year, is losing two more incumbents.

Five-term Alamance Representative Alice Bordsen announced late today she won't run for re-election. 

"Making this decision was difficult, but I finally decided that, as much as I am honored to serve in the House, we must care as much about how we leave public service as we do about how we do our work," she said in an email. "As I approach the end of a decade of service and contemplated whether to embark on a second one, I decided to leave on my own terms."

"There are things I still want to do which do not preclude other elective office," Bordsen added.  "But, for now, I need to open the door to new faces and new voices from Alamance. It just feels the right time to step away for a while." 

Earlier today, Fayetteville Representative Diane Parfitt also announced she would not seek re-election.  She was appointed to House 44 in 2010, replacing Margaret Dickson, who moved up to the Senate to take Tony Rand's seat when he retired. 

The new Republican redistricting maps drew 5-term Democrat Rick Glazier into Parfitt's district.

Both double-bunked Democrats considered runs for other offices. Glazier said he might challenge Democrat June Atkinson in a primary for state schools chief, while polling released this month shows Parfitt would be competitive in a Senate race against Republican Wesley Meredith.

Nonetheless, Parfitt has apparently decided not to run for any legislative office in 2012. "It has been an honor to serve the people of Cumberland County and the great state of North Carolina," her statement today said. "As a private citizen, I will continue my work for issues affecting women and children."