The state Senate's longest-serving member and Democratic minority leader is retiring from the Senate.

Sen. Robert Mellow said Tuesday that he will not seek re-election to an 11th consecutive term. The Lackawanna County Democrat's term expires Nov. 30.

Mr. Mellow, 67, says he wants to spend more time with his daughters and grandchildren after nearly 40 years of putting up with the demands of public office.

He was first elected to the state Senate in 1970 and served for about 16 months in the early 1990s as the Senate's president pro tempore.

He has been the Democrats' floor leader for much of the past two decades.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.