Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.) announced Wednesday that he will retire at the end of his eighth term, saying that he recently changed his mind about whether to seek reelection.

Everett was elected to the House in 1994 and cited his impending 71st birthday as one of the reasons he will depart from the House in January 2009.

“While there remains much work to be accomplished by Congress, I made a difficult decision over the weekend not to seek election for a ninth term,” Everett said. “The decision was difficult because of my love for the people of my district, and my love for the work I do on my three committees. It had been my intention until last week to seek reelection, including a run for the chair or ranking [position] on the Committee on Agriculture.

“However, there is a season for all things and it is time for me to enter the next phase of my life, and pass the mantle to the next generation,” Everett added.

“I still have 15 months remaining in my term, so I intend to keep working hard for Alabama’s 2nd district, including: work on a new farm bill, my farm reservoir bill to combat drought, and my efforts on behalf of America’s national security,” Everett stated.

Everett handily won his southern Alabama district last year with 68.1 percent of the vote. President Bush received 67 percent of the vote there in 2004.