Stonington -- Republican First Selectman Rob Simmons has announced he is withdrawing as a candidate for the Board of Education this fall.

Simmons, who has decided not to seek re-election as first selectman, had been nominated to run for school board last month after the Republican Town Committee initially had difficulty finding candidates to run.

The town committee also endorsed Simmons' wife, Heidi Simmons, to run for the school board and she remains in the race.

"After careful consideration, we have decided that it would be best for me to withdraw my name from the ballot. First, having two members of the same family on the line for a position on the same Board of Education seems unusual and perhaps extreme. Second, it is my judgment that of the two of us, Heidi Simmons is far more qualified," wrote Simmons in his withdrawal letter.

He pointed out his wife is a certified teacher with more than 45 years of experience across the country and the Republic of China, an award-winning literacy coach with 20 years of teaching experience at the Regional Multicultural Magnet School in New London, a retired teacher receiving a pension from the Teacher’s Retirement Board who has personal experience about retiree issues and a volunteer literacy teacher at Deans Mill School among other qualifications.