Assistant GOP Leader To Leave Mass. House

Veteran state Rep. George Peterson, the assistant House minority leader, plans to retire from the Legislature at the end of the current term.

The Grafton Republican was first elected to the House in 1994 and become assistant minority leader in 2008.

In announcing plans to retire on Monday, the 63-year-old Peterson said he wanted to spend more time with his wife and family.

Peterson noted that being part of the heavily outnumbered Republican contingent in the state House of Representatives can often be a "test of will and patience." But he said the party has worked hard on Beacon Hill to help improve the lives of Massachusetts residents.