WASHINGTON ? Democratic congressman John Olver of Massachusetts said Wednesday he will retire at the end of his term, a move that could make it easier for officials redrawing the state's congressional district boundaries with one less seat.
The 75-year-old congressman said he would step down from his western Massachusetts seat because of family circumstances. His wife, Rose, is ill with cancer.
President Barack Obama praised Olver's service.
"In the State House and Congress, John Olver has proudly served the people of Massachusetts for over forty years," Obama said in a statement. "He has fought tirelessly for a cleaner environment, modern infrastructure, more affordable housing, and more accessible health care. Michelle and I join the people of Massachusetts in thanking Congressman Olver for his service, and we wish John, his wife Rose, and daughter Martha the very best in the future."
The co-chairs of the redistricting committee, state Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, and state Rep. Michael Moran, D-Boston, said in a joint statement that Olver's announcement represented a "dramatic change" and that the panel would be assessing its impact in the coming days.
Olver's decision comes as Massachusetts officials wrestle with the politically charged redistricting process that will reduce the state's congressional seats from 10 to nine. There has been speculation that the new congressional map might combine Olver's 1st Congressional District seat with the 3rd Congressional District seat held by Rep. James McGovern of Worcester.
For the Massachusetts congressional delegation, Olver's retirement likely means that two Democratic incumbents will not, as feared, be squaring off in a primary for a newly redrawn district next year.
Massachusetts is losing one of its seats following the latest national census showing the state's population growth failed to keep pace with western and southern states.
Olver, in a statement, noted that he had previously said he would run for re-election in 2012, but found he had to reconsider that decision.
"Last December, I announced that I intended to seek to continue my congressional service beyond 2012," Olver said. "Over the past six months, circumstances within my family have substantially changed, and I now find I must reconsider my earlier decision.
Olver said his district had changed considerably since he was first elected two decades ago.
"The district has grown much larger from the district as it was in 1991, and these twenty years have been tumultuous years for America," he said.
Olver has held his seat since 1991 and was a member of the House Appropriations panel. He is a former professor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
(Associated Press reporter Bob Salsberg contributed to this story from Boston.)
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