July 10, 2008 - 9:02am
News

Allen: retirement rumors untrue

State Sen. Diane Allen set the record straight today, denying rumors that she’s considering retirement due to health issues.

“There is no truth to that. Absolutely not,” said Allen in a phone interview this morning.

Allen has been suffering through a severe bout of pneumonia for most of the year, which has left her unable to attend some legislative sessions, including recent ones on the budget. It also kept her from considering a U.S. Senate bid earlier this year after she was courted by party leaders to replace Anne Evans Estabrook, who pulled out of the race after suffering a minor stroke.

A story in Tuesday’s Philadelphia Inquirer may have helped ignite the speculation about Allen’s retirement. Allen also said that she “wouldn’t be surprised” if political rivals were spreading the rumor (Allen has recently had an adversarial relationship with GOP power broker Glenn Paulsen, who used to chair the Burlington County Republican Party).

Allen said that her illness has recurred several times because she’s found it difficult to devote enough time to rest.

“I fully intend to be back at full strength soon,” she said. “I’m really taking it slowly right now, and my doctor tells me there’s no reason I can’t get back to normal.”

Matt Friedman is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at matt@politicsnj.com.