Colorado senator keeps term limit promise

DENVER, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., has announced he is keeping his promise of serving just two, six-year terms, and will retire in 2008.

Allard made the announcement in Denver Monday and said he looks forward to returning to being a "country veterinarian," the Rocky Mountain News reported Tuesday.

"The people placed their trust in me based on a promise I made to them, and I am honoring that promise," Allard said. "In an age when promises are cast away as quickly as yesterday's newspaper, I believe a promise made should be a promise kept."

Allard has been in various elected positions for 24 years, and was elected to the Senate in 1996. Throughout his political career, he has been an advocate of term limits, the newspaper said.

The announcement set off a flurry among would-be replacements, who include a radio talk show host as well as current and former state and federal politicians, the newspaper said.