Sanders considering leaving politics

Powerful state Sen. Hank Sanders, chairman of the Senate education budget committee, said Tuesday he is leaning toward retiring from politics after the current four-year term.

Sanders, D-Selma, said he could decide any day. He is in his seventh term in the Senate, where he represents all or part of Autauga, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Lowndes, Marengo, Monroe, Perry and Wilcox counties.

The senator has been a force in helping to craft the state's multi-billion-dollar education budget. The education budget signed by Gov. Bob Riley on Monday totaled $6.2 billion.

Sanders, 66, is an attorney in Selma. He was born in Baldwin County and graduated from Talladega College and Harvard Law School.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen