State Sen. Mary Lou Rath of Williamsville says she will not seek re-election this year to represent her Republican-leaning 61st District for another two years.
Her decision makes the 61st District election one to watch this year. Republicans control the Senate 33-29. With a swing of only two seats, Democrats will be able to take the house with the tie-breaking votes cast by the lieutenant governor.
Rath in 1993 became the first woman elected to her Senate district, which includes part of the City of Tonawanda, the towns of Tonawanda, Amherst, Clarence and Newstead in Erie County, and all of Genesee County.
As the deputy majority leader for state and federal relations, she is the first woman to serve in a leadership post in the Senate majority. She was elected in 1979 to the Erie County Legislature, where she served as minority leader from 1989 until 1993.
A full report on Rath's announcement will appear in Tuesday's News.
And of course, by Tuesday when the News publishes this story, it will be "old" news.
