Until recently, George Voinovich had planned to run for a third term in the U.S. Senate. But late last week, reports surfaced he was rethinking those plans. Monday, he officially announced he would leave office after next year.

Reaction to the senator's announcement included officeholders from the opposition party.

"(Sen. Voinovich) and I share a commitment to fighting for Ohio during this challenging time for our nation," said Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. "I look forward to continuing to work with him over the next two years."

Area Congressman Zack Space, who is among those who may seek voinovich's senate seat next year, said, "Sen. Voinovich has served the people of Ohio for over four decades at every level of government, representing a depth of knowledge that will be greatly missed...His willingness to reach across the aisle to find balanced solutions to our nation's problems is an example I try to follow every day."

Voinovich came from a Democratic family from the Cleveland area...but when he persued his career in politics in the 1960's, it was as a Republican. He held several local offices in the Cleveland area, and was a member of the Ohio House, before being elected mayor of Cleveland in 1979. After revitalizing a city which had been often seen as a national joke, he became Ohio's Governor in the 1990's.

He boosted the career of a local officeholder, former Marietta Mayor Nancy Hollister, who became his Lieutenant Governor in 1995, before briefly becoming Ohio's first woman to serve as Governor in early 1999, when Voinovich was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Voinovich has won praise for his support of a government agency of interest to rural Ohio and West Virginia, the Appalachian Regional Commission.

"How would you like to put a dollar down, and get 11 dollars back?," he said in 2007. "I think it's teriffic deal for the country."

Voinovich will be 74 years of age when his term ends. He cites, in part, family considerations as part of his decision.