While all of us wish state Sen. Kip Averitt the best in facing his health problems, more and more of his local constituents also wish the Waco Republican would reconsider his announcement about bowing out of the March 2 GOP primary.

As weighty as his health problems might seem, he should remember his obligations to constituents, including those who backed him for many years through thick and thin.

No doubt about it. Kip Averitt’s announcement just a week and a half after the filing deadline was a case of bad timing for local Republicans and those who have our stretch of Central Texas at heart, including former state Sen. David Sibley, a top Republican and Averitt’s mentor.

We totally sympathize with their concern, which correctly puts constituents over political party. Some worry Averitt’s decision, if allowed to stand, leaves Burleson Republican and insurance agent Darren Yancy — the only other candidate — assured of an easy victory. That, in turn, might leave our area without a strong Central Texas Republican in the state Senate to fight for Waco and McLennan County.

This could mean huge problems in our area for many years, including in the redistricting madness that will consume the Legislature to all levels of distraction and self-centeredness come 2011.

“I’m afraid we’re going to get cut up like boardinghouse pie,” Sibley, a former Waco mayor and county prosecutor, told Trib political reporter Michael W. Shapiro. “I’ve seen it happen before, and it can take decades for counties to recover from that.”

Sibley fears that Yancy naturally would want to shore up his support to get re-elected in the district, which includes McLennan, Bosque, Coryell, Ellis, Falls, Hill, Hood, Johnson, Navarro and Somervell counties. Keeping McLennan County — our district’s population center — whole and intact might not fit that political scheme. Yancy, for the record, denies any such intentions.

Sibley wants Averitt to confront his medical problems, remain in the race and serve again in the Senate. Others want to see Averitt remain in the race long enough that a special election can be held, offering at least some choice for Central Texas voters.

We’ve already sung Averitt’s praises, and we second Sibley’s idea that Averitt reconsider his decision and run against Yancy. Even the idea of a special election at some point would offer Central Texas voters a choice. If Yancy prevailed in the contest, we’d at least feel more like the will of the people had been served. One reason that we’re excited about primary and general election races is because they offer voters choice. We’d like as much for our Texas Senate seat — and not some victory by default.