rumors true...Oxley retires

FINDLAY — U.S. Rep. Mike Oxley (R, Findlay), a staunch conservative and one of Ohio’s longest-serving congressmen, announced this morning that he will retire at the end of his current term.

Mr. Oxley, 61, who has represented Ohio’s 4th Congressional District since 1981, cited House rules requiring him the relinquish his chairmanship of the powerful House Financial Services Committee at the end of this term as one of the factors in his decision. He must give up his chairmanship due to term limits.

"After a lot of thought and conversations with a lot of people...I’ve decided not to seek re-election next year," Mr. Oxley told a crowd of about 200 people during a breakfast at the Findlay Country Club. "It was a tough decision."

Mr. Oxley most recently shepherded a bill through the House to overhaul regulation of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The bill must still clear the Senate, which is unlikely this year.

(Of course the amendment that prevents non-profits from being able to participate if they have had any election activity including voter registration wasn't mentioned. Let's hope the Blade prediction that the bill will not clear the Senate this year is true.)

So this makes Ohio-4 an interesting one. Who will the Republicans put up?