State Senator Dave Cogdill, who represents Mariposa County, will not be seeking another term in the California State Senate. He surprised republican party leaders with the announcement on Tuesday.

Cogdill has served in the California legislature since 2000, and says he wants to spend more time with his family and return to work in the private sector. It had been rumored that Codgill was on the governor’s “short list” of potential appointees to fill the lieutenant governor seat after John Garamendi moves to the U.S. Congress.

Cogdill was elected to the state assembly in 2000. He served there until his election to the state senate in 2006. In 2008, he was appointed the senate minority leader, but was later ousted as the republican leader in wake of the state’s budget compromise this year.