Democratic state Rep. Ben West says he’s retiring

State Rep. Ben West Jr. says he won’t run for re-election this year because he wants to spend more time with his family and pursue other goals.
The Nashville Democrat officially announced Friday that he’s retiring, “effective with the election in November 2010.’’
The 68-year-old has held the House District 60 seat representing eastern Nashville since 1985. He missed several months of last year’s legislative session after a heart attack that required double bypass surgery.
Republicans hold a 51-48 majority in the state House. West was re-elected by 32 percentage points in 2008 over Republican Ron Hickman.