State Sen. John Girgenti (D-35) of Hawthorne will not pursue re-election.

Redistricted away from Paterson and deeper into the suburbs, the veteran senator had discussed the possibility of moving to the Silk City but today decided to retire when his current term comes to an end.

"After much soul-searching over the past few days, I have decided not to seek re-election to the State Senate," Girgenti said in a statement. "Although moving back to Paterson is a viable option, it would most probably result in a bitter and divisive primary.  That's the last thing I want to see happen. "

Assemblywoman Nellie Pou (D-35) of North Haledon formally submitted a letter of interest to Passaic County Democratic Committee Chairman John Currie on Sunday, just as the redistricting process drew to a close.

"I am quite disappointed that Hawthorne was removed from the 35th District and that I have been denied the opportunity to run for re-election," Girgenti said. "In my 33 years of public service, I have never been defeated in a legislative election and frequently ran unopposed. I believe this has been a testimony to my effectiveness and productivity as a full-time legislator.

"I am proud of my accomplishments as a Senator, which include numerous legislative initiatives and hundreds of bills signed into law as a prime sponsor. They include mandating sprinkler installation in N.J. college dormitories, the Crime Victim's Bill of Rights, the first "Tax on Crime", Megan's Law, the Amber Alert law and the Paterson Urban Enterprise Zone program.  I was able to lead the effort to re-instate the Paterson Motor Vehicle Agency in 2008 to more effectively serve the city's residents, and most recently I have been at the forefront of legislative solutions to eliminate criminal street gangs.

"As the year progresses and I complete my final term in January, I will continue to pursue my legislative goals. While this chapter of my life comes to a close, I am looking forward to finding other ways to contribute to our community, as I have been doing for my entire adult life.

"I wish to thank my constituents for the faith and confidence that they have shown in me over the years. I am very proud of my record and strongly believe that public service is one of the most noble life paths that a person can pursue."