AP: Longest-serving New Jersey lawmaker to retire

[mcscajun]

March 6, 2007, 4:23 PM EST

TRENTON, N.J. -- The longest-serving legislator in New Jersey history won't seek re-election to another term, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Sen. Robert Littell, of Sussex County, has been in the Legislature since 1968, when he was elected to the Assembly. The Republican moved to the Senate in 1990.

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Assemblyman Guy Gregg and Sussex County Freeholder Steve Oroho are expected to run in the Republican primary to replace Littell, whose term expires in January.

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Littell is the seventh Republican state senator to decide not to run again recently. Others include Leonard Connors, William Gormley, Walter Kavanaugh, Robert Martin and Joseph Palaia. Gormley resigned on Feb. 15.

Democrats control the Senate 22-18, so nearly 40 percent of the Republican caucus isn't seeking re-election.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--senatorretires0306mar06,0,2328626,print.story

"If I can't hold the bat, I'm going home."

[rusty charly]

1. "he would rather be in a hot tub with me"

VIRGINIA LITTELL, the wife of Senator Robert E. Littell and a savvy observer of New Jersey politics, had one of her patented one-liners ready to explain why her 71-year-old husband, a powerful Republican, had decided not to seek re-election.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/11njpol.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Mr. Littell said Tuesday that he would not run next year in what had promised to be a bloody battle against Assemblyman Guy R. Gregg for the hearts and minds of northwestern New Jersey.

“Bob said that he would rather be in a hot tub with me than in a mud bath with Guy Gregg,” said Ms. Littell, a former state Republican chairwoman.

The pending departure of Mr. Littell, who with 40 years in one house or the other is the longest-serving current New Jersey lawmaker, had a wistful feel. His father, Alfred, served in the Legislature, and his daughter is Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose.

The announced departure was a sign of the times as well. Mr. Littell, a genteel dealmaker and skilled negotiator, was stepping down, and stepping up was a combative, conservative representative. This sets the stage for a battle in a district that covers some of the fastest-growing areas of Sussex, Morris and Hunterdon Counties.