State House Speaker James A. Amann shocked the Capitol Wednesday, announcing he’ll retire from the legislature when his term ends in January — and that he still plans to move forward with his gubernatorial bid in 2010.Amann, D-Milford, left friends, colleagues, and others stunned silent, declaring it’s time to return to the tradition of speakers serving a maximum of two terms — even if it means he must seek the state’s highest office without the speaker’s job or a legislative post to keep him in the spotlight.

His decision to leave the legislature opens the doors for several other lawmakers to move up the leadership chain faster than expected, particularly House Majority Leader Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, who appears to have the inside track to become speaker when the next legislature convenes in January.

“All of you reporters know what I want to do,” the speaker said during a briefing about three hours after his announcement. “I want to go in cleanly.”

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