Topeka ? The longest-serving member of the Legislature announced Thursday that he is not seeking re-election this year.

Rep. Bill Reardon, D-Kansas City, was first elected in 1974 in the 37th District.

“Some people go their entire lives and never get a job they love,” said Reardon, 62, a high school government teacher. “I’ve had two my whole life.”

Reardon said he was not burned out on either his House position or his job at Bishop Miege High School, in Roeland Park, from which he also is retiring after this year. The school has granted him an annual leave to serve in the Legislature.

But he said that at some point he knew it would be time to move on.

“This is bittersweet, but it’s time,” he said.

During his 30 years in the House, Reardon has served for 26 years on the House Education Committee — most of them as ranking Democrat. He said he would like to do public service work after retirement and did not rule out lobbying on education issues.

“If I were lobbying for a cause I believe in, such as education, maybe I would do that,” he said. “But at this point, I really haven’t thought that far ahead.”

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