One of Wisconsin’s longest-ever serving representatives says he is calling it a career after 35 years. U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, R-Wisc, officially announced his retirement at a town hall meeting in Neenah Monday afternoon.
Petri was first elected to Wisconsin’s Sixth Congressional district in 1979.
“Sooner or later you’re either booted out, die, or retire,” he said. “I figure 35 years is a pretty good start.”
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Petri was facing a serious challenge from state Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, who is seen as one of the state’s most conservative lawmakers. Petri is largely seen as a moderate.
He made the retirement announcement at a town hall meeting in Neenah. He did not cite tea party politics as his sole reason for stepping down.
“There were dozens of factors of every sort, and I don’t think it’d be fair to pick out any one. That certainly wasn’t an outstanding one,” he said.
Petri says he hopes people remember his 17 terms in office for his commitment to infrastructure. He is now the chair of the House subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
“Among those things which is not really glamorous is to get a change in the federal highway formula, which has produced over the last years of service on that committee, over $1 billion for the state of Wisconsin,” Petri said. “Not new spending, but spending that would have otherwise gone to other states.”
The projects Petri has backed include the Marquette interchange in Milwaukee and the expansion of Highway 41 that runs through his district in the Fox Valley and up to the Green Bay area.
Petri’s retirement leaves an open seat with several Republicans already announcing their intentions and Democrats looking for a candidate.
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