PATERSON, N.J.—Sen. Frank Lautenberg gladly recounts his uniquely American story: son of an impoverished silk-mill worker; World War II veteran; self-made millionaire; and 30-year U.S. senator.
But "retired" isn't a label that quite suits him, yet.
Returning to the city of his birth Friday, Mr. Lautenberg made official his plans to step down from Congress at the end of his fifth term, in January 2015, and outlined plans to focus on the environment, gun safety and transportation in his last two years and beyond.
Yet even in his farewell announcement, the 89-year-old liberal Democrat couldn't help but keep his foot in the emerging race for his seat. When asked who among the growing field of Democrats and Republicans would best replace him, he kidded that his wife would be apt, but "she's busy."
"I'm not announcing retirement," said Mr. Lautenberg, while surrounded by family and leading state Democrats gathered here. "I will be continuing on my mission to do the right things whenever I can."
His announcement Thursday that he wouldn't seek a sixth term supercharged the race to fill his seat. At least five Democrats are eyeing the chance, including Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Rep. Frank Pallone and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver.
"There is no question that there are significant numbers of people who have an interest in perhaps exploring a candidacy. I am one," Ms. Oliver said after the event held at the Senator Lautenberg Transportation Opportunities Center.
New Jersey hasn't elected a GOP U.S. senator in 30 years, but several Republicans are also possible contenders. State GOP members are now more focused on trying to take back the Legislature in the November elections, said one Republican familiar with the discussions.
The last sitting senator to serve in World War II and the body's oldest member, Mr. Lautenberg was born to poor Eastern European immigrants. His mill-worker father died at 43, leaving his mother a widow at 37.
"My parents didn't have materially valuable things to leave to me, but they left values," Mr. Lautenberg said.
After going to college on the GI Bill, Mr. Lautenberg joined a small payroll company started by two Paterson brothers in 1953. He eventually became the CEO of Automatic Data Processing, a role that made him millions of dollars that he tapped to bankroll his entry into politics.
"He's a businessman who has always been successful," Mr. Pallone said. But "he's a progressive and cares about the little guy."
In 1982, he ran for U.S. Senate at age 58 and served three terms until he retired in 2000. After Sen. Robert Torricelli declined to run amid ethics questions in 2002, Mr. Lautenberg stepped in and won the seat. Mr. Lautenberg won his last election in 2008 handily.
With his deep financial pockets, Mr. Lautenberg rode above the corruption scandals that swallowed many other New Jersey politicians. His sharp elbows and tenaciousness earned him the nickname "swamp dog."
"He was a street guy and he was an intellect," said Joe Taub, one of ADP's founders, about Mr. Lautenberg. "Not many people have that."
Mr. Lautenberg fought to deliver federal dollars to New Jersey. Between fiscal year 2008 and 2010, he secured nearly $800 million in earmarks for the state, ranking him 15th in the Senate, according to figures from the Taxpayers for Common Sense organization.
Mr. Lautenberg used his seat to aid mass transit, and pass legislation on gun safety, the environment and health. NJ Transit's Secaucus Junction station bears his name.
"Over the last 30 years, he's probably had the strongest environmental record of any senator," said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
Some of Mr. Lautenberg's signature accomplishments—including a law to ban smoking in airplanes in the late 1980s—came after big fights at the time, though now they are established parts of everyday life.
"Every time I get on a plane, I saw a small 'thank you' to Senator Lautenberg," said state Sen. Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg.
Speculation had grown that Mr. Lautenberg would step down at the end of his fifth term, but Mr. Booker's announcement that he was running for the seat in December prompted the senator to publicly criticize the mayor.
Still, Mr. Lautenberg had $182,000 cash on hand as of his most recent federal election filing, along with an outstanding $1 million loan to the senator himself. Mr. Pallone, in comparison, had $3.4 million in his campaign account. Mr. Booker hasn't had to report his campaign receipts, but has been in discussions about holding fundraisers in California and Chicago soon, according to one person familiar with the planning.
Mr. Lautenberg said he intends to continue to do policy work after he finishes his term, but also hoped to spend more time with family. And his decision to step down appeared bittersweet.
After a after a woman in the crowd shouted, "We love you, Frank," Mr. Launtenberg joked: "Is it too late to change my mind?"
Written by: Heather Haddon
Original Publication URL: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324162304578306483463395930.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
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