Another state legislator has decided to retire.
State Sen. Robert Marshall (D-Wilmington) announced on Facebook Monday night he will not seek re-election, ending his 40 year run in office.
He made the announcement just ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for filing to run.
The 72-year-old Marshall was first elected to represent his Wilmington district in 1978. He said in his Facebook post he plans to devote more time to his business interests.
Marshall sat in the Bond Bill Committee and was chair of the Senate Labor committee. He spent recent years championing legislation to raise the state’s minimum wage. His bill phasing in a one-dollar increase to the minimum wage over two years – lifting it to $9.25 per hour – passed during the final hours of this past session. But it needed an 11th hour compromise to overcome GOP opposition to it being approved during an overnight vote.
Marshall is the 12th member of the General Assembly - and the 4th member of the State Senate not to seek re-election.
Democrats Jordan Hines and Elizabeth "Tizzy" Lockman had already filed to challenge for Marshall’s 3rd District State Senate seat. No Republican has filed in the race.
