WSMV Channel 4 State Sen. Haynes to retire after 28 years

State Sen. Haynes to retire after 28 years

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Sen. Joe Haynes announced Friday that he will not seek re-election in 2012, saying a newly redrawn district by Republicans wasn't necessarily a factor in his decision.

However, the Goodlettsville Democrat, who has served in the Senate for 28 years, did note what he called an "interesting symmetry" in the circumstances surrounding his decision to run in 1984 and the one he would face 2012.

"In 1984, the ruling Democratic majority literally changed the district to exclude my home in an attempt to protect a Democratic incumbent," said Haynes, whose district includes large parts of Nashville in Davidson County.

"This year, the ruling Republican majority has radically changed my district in an attempt to draw a district more favorable to a Republican candidate."

He said he still believes he could win.

Haynes, 75, said his "family, a huge stack of unread books and a little-used fishing boat demand my attention now."

He is the fourth Democratic lawmaker to announce he won't run for re-election in the fall.

The others are Rep. Harry Tindell of Knoxville, and Sens. Roy Herron of Dresden and Eric Stewart of Belvidere, who is running for Congress.

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