State Rep. Gary Haluska (D-Cambria) would have faced Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria) in a primary for their now-merged seats, but has instead decided to retire.

“The job definitely puts your life in fast-forward and the past 20 years have flown by. I have been blessed with a great staff and overwhelming support from the people of the 73rd Legislative District over the years, and I hope that they feel that we have provided them with the service and representation which they deserved,” Haluska said in a statement.

He cited redistricting as one of the reasons for his retirement.

“In the third and finally-approved [redistricting] plan, four sets of Democrats were pitted against each other. Rep. Frank Burns and I are one of these. The combined district will be the 72nd Legislative District,” Haluska said. “I had already been thinking of retiring from public life, and now I see no better time to do so. Therefore, my current term will end on November 30, 2014”

Haluska represented the 73rd district since 1995, whereas Burns has only been in office since 2009.

This is the second member versus member primary to be avoided this week. Rep. Ed Neilson (D-Philadelphia) accepted the Democratic nomination for an open seat on Philadelphia city council in lieu of facing Rep. John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) in a primary.

Democratic incumbents still sparring in primaries include: Rep. Erin Molchany (D-Allegheny) and Rep. Harry Readshaw (D-Allegheny); and Reps. Frank Farina and Kevin Haggerty of Lackawanna County. Interestingly, yet another Dem jumped into the HD-112 race against Farina and Haggerty: Bob Munley.