BATON ROUGE - A New Orleans state senator is the latest lawmaker to announce he won't seek re-election this fall.

Sen. David Heitmeier, an optometrist, announced Thursday that he won't be on the Oct. 24 ballot, saying he wants to spend more time with his eye care practice and his patients.

Heitmeier, a Democrat, is in his second term representing District 7.

He serves as chairman of the Senate health care committee, where he helped the state draw down millions more each year in federal financing for health care services. His brother was a state senator before him.

Heitmeier's the fourth member of the 39-member Senate to announce he won't run to keep his seat. Seven other senators are term-limited and can't seek re-election.