Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics Republican Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan announced June 16, he would formally retire from public service effective June 28, to take an unspecified job in the private sector. Flanagan had previously announced he would not seek re-election to the Senate seat he first won in 2002. "As I have often said over the course of my career in public service, it has been my extraordinary honor and privilege to have served the people of New York in both the Assembly and Senate," Flanagan said. "My life has been immeasurably enriched by the thousands of people whom I have met along the way, and I leave Albany with my head full of life lessons and my heart full of fond memories." Flanagan's decision to step aside comes months after a number of Republicans announced their retirements from the chamber, virtually remaking a conference previously known for its stability. Some potential replacements for Flanagan as leader include Senators Fred Akshar and Pat Gallivan. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.