New York Senate leader won't run again

ALBANY, N.Y., June 24 (UPI) -- The New York state Legislature's highest ranking Republican announced Monday he will not seek re-election in November.

State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno's announcement that he plans to end his 32-year career in the Senate came as a surprise to some political observers, The New York Times reported.

"I didn't see it coming," state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, after Bruno telephoned him with the news. "The senator certainly is a piece of Albany. An era ends with Joe Bruno leaving."

Bruno, 79, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., gathered his Republican Senate colleagues for a private meeting to tell them he was not running again, but did not explain his decision, the newspaper reported.

He is under a federal investigation in connection with his outside business interests.

"After 32 years in office, I have decided that it is time to move on with my life and to give my constituents an opportunity for new representation and my colleagues in the Senate who have supported me an opportunity for new leadership," Bruno said in a statement. "Politics is a tough ballgame. Tougher now than it has ever been."