After spending 12 years representing the Fond du La area in the 52nd Assembly District, Republican John Townsend plans to “smell the roses and pamper the grandchildren.”

Townsend announced Monday afternoon he will not run for a seventh term in the November 2010 election.

“I have decided to announce my intentions now so that the people of the 52nd Assembly District will have an ample opportunity to determine who can best serve them beginning in January 2011,” Townsend said.

The seat has been dominated by Republicans. The last Democrat to hold the seat — and the first in a long time — was Peg Lautenschlager of Fond du Lac from 1988 to 1992. Lautenschlager left the post to become a U.S. Attorney for the Western District in Wisconsin.

One possible candidate for the spot is Fond du Lac City Council President Tim Lakin. Lakin initially threw his hat in the ring in 2008 for the state Senate seat vacated by Carol Roessler, but withdrew in the primary. Randy Hopper, R-Fond du Lac, went on to win the seat.

Asked Monday whether he plans to run for the Assembly seat, Lakin said he may make an announcement down the road.

Time to retire

Townsend, who will be 72 years old by the end of his term, said he will use his free time to assist his 92-year-old mother and help the community with volunteer work.

He said he has accumulated 47 years of public service through his time with the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserves, the Fond du Lac City Council and the Wisconsin State Assembly.

He also made it clear his work is not done.

“The term of office does not expire until Dec. 31, 2010. There’s over another year left,” Townsend said.

Townsend, who defeated Democrat Jerry Keifenheim in November 2008 to retain the 52nd Assembly District seat, will return to work today when the Wisconsin State Assembly convenes in Madison.


Issues

The issues he is concerned about have not been taken up by the body.

“I don’t think we’ve addressed some of the key issues,” Townsend said. “Particularly with the state of the economy and what we can do to turn it around. We are going into session (today) and I am not saying (the topics) are not important, but they’re not really earthshaking. There’s one bill related to the sale of home canned food and one related to revising the statutes for bow hunting.”

Even though Townsend plans to spend more time with his wife, Maria, he doesn’t plan to leave the world of politics.

“I just don’t want to be as active as I’ve been. Besides, there’s politics in every place you go. There’s politics in the workplace, there’s politics in educational organizations. Instead of politics, let’s call it involvement,” Townsend said.