Rep. Westmoreland to retire at end of year | Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, who represents north Columbus in the 3rd Congressional District, announced Thursday that he won't seek re-election this year after six terms in office.

Since taking office in 2005, Westmoreland has served the district that stretches from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to north Columbus and Griffin.

The Republican said he made the decision to retire at the end of the 114th Congress after some reflection over the Christmas break.

"It has been an honor to serve Georgia's Third District for the last 12 years, and I believe it is time to pass the torch to our next conservative voice," he said. "Washington, D.C., is a much different environment in 2016 than when I was elected in 2004. I know all too well the challenges the new representative will face and pledge to offer my support and guidance to the next candidate."

Fellow Republican state Sen. Josh McKoon of District 29 said he saw the congressman at an event before Christmas but didn't have any indication that he wouldn't be seeking another term.

"I guess like most folks, I'm surprised," McKoon said late Thursday.

"I did not anticipate that he would not be seeking another term. I thought he was certainly intending to stand for re-election."

Over the years, McKoon said he has heard from congressmen who have to get on a plane on Monday to Washington, return home and travel the district.

And there is an election every year and a half or so, he said. "It's a lot to it," he said.

McKoon said he's in Atlanta preparing for the legislative session that starts Monday. "Sure, we will hear a lot of stories between now and then about people making decisions about that congressional race," he said. "I'm focused on the job in front of me right now. That is what I'm looking at. We will just see how all that shakes out."

Westmoreland, 65, was born in Georgia and lived more than 25 years in Fayette County before moving to Grantville in Coweta County.

There, he started the building company L.A.W. Builders.

He served 12 years in the Georgia House, where he developed a reputation for fighting for lower taxes and smaller government.

He was elected to serve as a Republican leader for three years.

His position is credited as one of the reasons the Republicans were able to win the majority of the state House for the first time.

Westmoreland was elected to Congress in 2004 by defeating Columbus native Dylan Glenn in a run for the then-8th District.

Two years later, the district was moved to the 3rd District where he now serves.

His committee assignments include Financial Services, Housing and Insurance, Monetary Policy and Trade, the Benghazi Attack and the Select Intelligence committee.

Since 2010, Westmoreland has been a staunch critic of Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act.

He has voted more than 40 times to repeal, replace and defund the health care law.

This week, the U.S. House voted along party lines to approve H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, but it faces a certain veto from the president.