Tom Breth announced Wednesday night he was removing himself as candidate for judge in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas.

Breth said the campaign trail had been dirtied, and he wanted to steer clear from the drama.

“Unfortuantely, the increasingly negative level of campaigning has eliminated my desire to further participate in the election process,” Breth said. “It is too difficult to stay positive and true to my values when common decency and mutual respect are removed from the process. That’s a sacrifice I’m not willing to make, nor am I willing to ask others to make such a sacrifice for me.”

Breth said he will return to practicing law full-time, and he will return to the donors any financial contributions to his campaign.