US Rep. John Linder of Ga. announces retirement

The Associated Press
Published: Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 - 12:45 pm

ATLANTA -- U.S. Rep. John Linder has announced he will retire from Congress after 18 years.

The Republican from Gwinnett County made the announcement Saturday at the dedication of a new Gwinnett County GOP headquarters. Linder aide Derick Corbett told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Linder would not be seeking re-election.

Gwinnett GOP manager David Hancock told the newspaper the announcement, which came at the end of brief speech by Linder, caught attendees off-guard.

Linder was one of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's top lieutenants, and most recently has been an advocate for a sales tax to replace the federal income tax.

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/02/27/257000 ... unces.html