Speaker of the state House of Representatives Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, announced Jan. 23 that he will not seek reelection to his legislative seat this year and will retire from the House at the end of the present session.

Turzai, called by The Associated Press "the most prominent fiscal and social conservative in state government," made the announcement at a press conference in his district. He is set to leave the speaker's chair at the end of his third term as the highest-ranking lawmaker in the House.

Turzai, who practiced law with the Pittsburgh firm Houston Harbaugh, was first elected to the General Assembly in 2001.

His reelection in 2018 was the closest margin ever for him, winning with 55% of the vote. Turzai declined to discuss his political future or business plans at the press conference, but he has been identified as a possible contender for Pennsylvania governor in 2022, when Gov. Tom Wolf is term-limited.

According to an AP report, three persons who spoke on condition of anonymity said Turzai has a private-sector job offer waiting in the wings. The company said to be making the offer, Bryn Mawr-based water utility Aqua America Inc., which is set to close on its $4.3 billion purchase of Pittsburgh-based natural gas utility Peoples on Feb. 3, declined comment Jan. 22 through a spokesman.

His counterpart in the Pennsylvania Senate, President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, praised Turzai in a statement.

"For the last five years, Speaker Turzai and I have worked closely together in our respective roles," Scarnati said. "It has been a privilege to collaborate with him on issues such as school choice, liquor modernization, protecting the unborn and ensuring that Pennsylvania taxpayers are respected during budget negotiations."

Democratic leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny, said, "Mike and I have been friends for a long time, going back to the 1980s before either of us was in the House." He stressed that the two have disagreed often, but offered respect for Turzai's decision to leave public service at the end of the term.

"While the political battles go on, I understand and respect his choice to go down another path in the future," he said. "House Democrats will continue working to achieve our Plan for Pennsylvania and expect the speaker to preside over the House fairly."