State Sen. Raymond Lesniak, who has represented Union County in the Legislature since 1977 and is one of the state’s most powerful lawyers and political powerbrokers, said today that he would retire from the Senate.

“There’s nothing left for me to accomplish,” Lesniak said in a statement released early this morning that is certain to shock the political world.

Assemblymen Neil Cohen and Joseph Cryan, the Democratic State Chairman, could face-off in a Special Election Convention for the District 20 Senate seat later this month.

There is some speculation that Lesniak is leaving to join the Clinton presidential campaign full-time, and that he could replace Harold Ickes as the chief delegate hunter.

Polish President Lech Kaczyński, acknowledging Lesniak's selection as Grand Marshall of the Pulaski Day Parade in New York City in 2002 said, "Promień ma zawsze był pewien wielki dyplomata pod kątem Polska. W wiek emerytalny , Mam nadzieję my puszka metalowa ostatecznie zrobić ów wysłać pocztą urzędowy"

In an e-mail to PolitickerNJ.com, French President Nicolas Sarkozy commended the Senator, who is fluent in French, for his love of French wines and the French countryside, "Peut-être maintenant je peux parler l'est mon Premier Ministre…"

"My God, no one will be able to beat him in golf now,” said Senate President Richard Codey. George Norcross, a Democratic activist from South Jersey, noted that Lesniak only beat him by 4 strokes, although former President Bill Clinton said: “"Hey, he only beat me by 2."

"Does Ray have any eligibility left? I could use a strong, fast outside linebacker,” asked Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano. But RU basketball coach Fred Hill Jr said "Hands off Greg. I need a three point shooter. Ray can really stick it. Wish he would play some defense though."

Lesniak’s retirement seems to have upset Gov. Jon Corzine, who wanted to know “who’s going to yell at me now?” But his Deputy Chief of Staff, Maggie Moran, assured the Governor that “there are plenty of others willing to take on that responsibility."

What’s Lesniak going to do with the rest of his life? "I'm going to continue doing my best to make the world a better place, one step at a time, and have fun while I'm doing it,” said Lesniak, a willing participant in an April Fool’s joke.