Rep. Gonzalez to Retire at Year's End: Texan Noted for Criticism of Federal Reserve Cites
Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez, the feisty Texas Democrat who dedicated much of his career to a crusade for change at the powerful Federal Reserve Bank; said yesterday he would retire when Congress finishes its business this year.</br></br>The ' 81:year-old congressman from SanAntonio, who was hospitalized ih 'late July for extreme fatigue and congestion, cited his health and the advice of his family and doctors for his decision.</br></br>ÛÏAfter being in political contests for almost half a century, I have run my last political race;Û he said in a statement</br></br>His move will mean that Gov. George W. Bush (R) must call a special election to fill the seat for the second half of the 105th Congress.</br></br>Gonzalez, a 35-year veteran of the House Banking Committee who was first elected to the House in 1961, became chairman of the body in 1989 and later served as the panelÛªs ranking minority member when the Republicans took over Congress in 1994. He is the third most senior Democrat in the House.