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Speaker of the House William J. Howell, R-Stafford, officially announced Monday that he will not run for re-election this year but instead will retire after 30 years in the House of Delegates, the last 15 as speaker.

Howell, who will turn 74 in May, said in a speech on the House floor that serving as speaker for 15 years "truly has been the greatest professional honor of my life."

Howell expressed his love of the House of Delegates, adding: "I believe it represents the hope, enduring strength and resiliency of our exciting and ongoing experiment in representative government."

Howell will retire after the end of his two-year term in January. Following Howell's speech Monday, delegates on both sides of the aisle took turns paying tribute to his service.

His decision to step down is likely to open the door for House Majority Leader M. Kirkland Cox, R-Colonial Heights, to become speaker next year.