DFL veteran Sen. Linda Higgins announces retirement

by Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — Democratic state Sen. Linda Higgins says she won't run for re-election next year in her Minneapolis District.

Higgins, who was first elected to the senate in 1996, represents downtown and north Minneapolis. She said she's announcing her retirement now so candidates have enough time to prepare for the February precinct caucuses.

"It isn't a lifetime job," she said. "It is a situation where you do your public service and then you hand it off with a big smile on your face to the person who will go on and serve in that capacity and hope that he or she doesn't undo all of the good work you did."

Higgins is the latest member of the Minneapolis delegation in the Senate to leave. DFL Sens. Linda Berglin and Larry Pogemiller left over the past few months. The three members had a combined 85 years seniority in the Legislature.