Roger Thomas says he's not running for re-election

It appears that this term in the Iowa State Legislature may be the last for State Representative Roger Thomas of Elkader.

Thomas told Democrats at their weekend conventions that he has decided not to seek re-election.  He says he will work instead to find another candidate for the Democrats.

Thomas will have served 16 years in the state legislature if he does not seek re-election.  He was first elected in 1996, defeating incumbent Republican Roger Halvorson.  In 2001 he gave up his seat in the Assembly in an unsuccessful bid for the Iowa Senate's 16th District.  But he returned to the Assembly in 2003 and has served ever since.