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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP/WACH) -- One of South Carolina's longest-serving legislators is retiring.

A spokesman for Senate Democrats confirmed Tuesday that Senate Minority Leader John C. Land, III will not seek re-election.

Land announced today, with mixed emotions, that he will not be seeking re-election to the South Carolina Senate, which would be his tenth four-year term.

Senator Land is currently the longest serving State Legislator with 38 years of service. 

The 71-year-old Manning Democrat has served in the Legislature since 1975. He served one term in the House before being elected to the Senate.

Land was elected Senate majority leader in 1993. When Republicans took over the Senate in 2000, Land became minority leader.

Land was a member of the South Carolina Highway Commission for four years before being elected to the House.

He is the third long-term senator to announce his retirement. Democratic Sen. Phil Leventis of Sumter and Republican Sen. Greg Ryberg of Aiken also say they won't seek re-election.

In announcing that he would not seek re-election, Senator Land stated that he has truly enjoyed his nearly 42 years of public service, especially the relationships that he has had with his constituents and members of the South Carolina legislature, and hopes that the voters in Senate District 36 have been satisfied with his services over the years.  Senator Land, who enjoys excellent health, stated that it was simply time to step aside and devote his time to his family and his law firm of Land, Parker & Welch. 

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)