Mercer County Assistant District Attorney Robert G. Kochems announced Friday that he is withdrawing his candidacy for Mercer County Common Pleas Court judge.

"It is with deep disappointment and regret that I am announcing my withdrawal of my candidacy ... I will again be devoting my full attention and time to my private law practice and to the district attorney's office as the attorney assigned to the Farrell/Sharon Weed and Seed program," Kochems said in a news release.

Kochems said he learned March 22 that because Weed and Seed receives federal money, he was potentially in violation of the Hatch Act and would have to relinquish his position as Law Enforcement Coordinator with Weed and Seed.

The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from participating in a variety of political activities, including being a candidate for public office in partisan elections.

Kochems said he turned the matter over to District Attorney James P. Epstein and he contacted the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to determine if Kochem's position brought him under the Hatch Act. Kochems said he and Epstein were not satisfied with the opinion they were given: that Kochems would not be in violation of the act if he left the Weed and Seed program but continued to work in the DA's office.

Kochems and Epstein contacted the U.S. Office of Special Counsel in Washington, D.C., and are waiting for a written opinion, the release said. Kochems said he was told on Friday morning that to avoid violating the Hatch Act he would have to end his candidacy immediately.

He announced in late February that he planned to run for judge. Kochems has been an assistant DA for more than 12 years and was an assistant public defender in Mercer County for more than 10 years. He is also solicitor for a number of boroughs, townships and the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission.

He was not available for comment Friday.