POST FALLS - When 91-year-old State Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, announced he would not be seeking reelection, a single applause sounded from the crowd. When those attending realized it was his wife Betty Ann, they laughed.

"Guess who made that decision for me?" he said lightheartedly. "No, it's been ... I've had just a marvelous 20 or more years in public office. It started here in Post Falls, when a businessman showed up and said he represented the business community and I was publisher of a newspaper of that time. They said they wanted me to run for mayor, and I did."

Henderson made the announcement to more than 30 people Saturday afternoon in the Ground Force Worldwide warehouse on Seltice Way. The politician will be retiring after his 10th year and fifth term as a state legislator, which officially ends Dec. 1.

"I still have many ideas of issues I would like to work with, but by retiring I'm going to leave them behind," he said.

After Henderson's retirement announcement, Post Falls businessman John Chambers announced he will be running for Henderson's position, House Seat B of District 3 in Kootenai County.

During his speech, Henderson said three factors influenced his decision about whether or not to run: his health, energy and who would replace him.

"I am really pleased that the third factor, who's going to replace me, came in even more positively than health and energy level. It's in the persona of John Chambers," Henderson said. "I am really very confident that John Chambers, when elected, will step into the Legislature and pick up the pieces that I left behind, and will add some of his pieces."

Chambers, who stood beside Henderson at the announcement, said he has never done anything like this before.

"As a representative of this state, I'll be focused on the needs of the people," Chambers said. "That's what I want to do."

Attendees congratulated Chambers and Henderson after their announcements.

"I am so glad that he is retiring," said Betty Ann, 81, of her husband. "If he were 10 years younger, he'd never retire. He loves that job more than anybody ... but he will never just retire. He'll be involved in the community, legislative actions, whatever he can do. He will never retire. The day he retires, that's the day he dies."