Rep. Ed Pastor to retire after current term

PHOENIX — A longtime Arizona politician will soon call it a career: Rep. Ed Pastor said in a Thursday email that he would retire at the end of his term.

“I’ve been in public office for 39 years and it’s been a pleasure to serve the people of Arizona,” Pastor said in the email. “After 23 in Congress, I feel it’s time for me to seek out a new endeavor. It’s been a great honor, a great experience and a great joy for me to serve in Congress. I think it’s time for me to do something else.”

His retirement will be effective in 2014.

Pastor was the first Hispanic person from Arizona to be selected to Congress. He was first elected in 1991 and has served a total of 12 terms under four different presidents.

Prior to serving in Congress, Pastor was the Maricopa County Supervisor from 1976 to 1991.