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Politics

Another GOP House member to retire

A legislator from Ohio is the 12th in '07 to say he won't seek re-election.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published October 15, 2007

Rep. David Hobson, a nine-term Republican from Ohio, announced plans to retire Sunday, the 12th member of his party to do so since the start of the year.

"I wanted to go out on top," said Hobson, who said his health is good. He would have faced token opposition at best.

Hobson, 71, became the third member of the Ohio delegation to announce retirement plans. Rep. Ralph Regula, who has been in Congress since 1973, announced recently he will not run again. Rep. Deborah Pryce, who narrowly won re-election in 2006, had previously said her current term will be her last.

Hobson served two terms from his west-central Ohio district before Republicans gained control of the House in 1994. His seniority soon made him one of the so-called cardinals, chairmen of Appropriations subcommittees with great authority over selected programs, until Democrats gained their majority last year.

Hobson has a moderate to conservative, pro-business voting record. He recently supported an expansion of children's health care that most Republicans opposed and that President Bush vetoed.

[Last modified October 14, 2007, 22:39:55]