Kentucky House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark says he will not run for the leadership post he has held since 1993.
The Louisville Democrat, who was re-elected for the 18th time last week, also said he is likely to retire at the end of his two-year term. Clark has represented the 46th legislative district for more than 30 years and has been second in command for the Democratic majority for more than two decades.
In a letter to House Speaker Greg Stumbo, Clark said he decided not to seek re-election as speaker pro tem because he thought it was a good time for someone new to learn the job while Democrats still control the House and the governor's office. Democrats maintained their eight-seat majority after last week's elections.
Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear's term ends in January 2016.