I gave this farewell speech on the floor of the Vermont House on May 6 announcing I won’t be seeking re-election this fall. Thank you everybody who followed by legislative career. I needed more time to focus on my family and the mission of the Northland Journal.

To quote the words of baseball great Lou Gehrig, “I consider myself the luckiest man alive.” Gehrig made this statement in his famous speech that he gave at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939 as he left baseball to battle ALS, a disease that claimed his life on June 2, 1941

Maybe I am not the luckiest man alive, but I sure do feel lucky – lucky to have been born and raised in Vermont, and lucky to have been blessed to have served in this great body. I feel so fortunate that a simple country boy like myself with aspirations can rise up to serve its people in this historic building. We must instill in the people around us, especially our young people, a can do attitude – that no dreams are too big.

Each morning I bound out of bed looking forward to each day and the joys and challenges it will bring. We should all feel fortunate when we are blessed enough to wake and experience a new day. Within hours or days we will likely close the 2010 legislative session. The end of session is the beginning of the end for my time serving under the Gold Dome. I have chosen not to seek re-election. Instead I’ll return to the Kingdom, the land of my birth, to continue my service to my region and its people through my writing.

I feel fortunate to have served with all of you – through good times and bad times, and even when we disagreed. Besides being a privilege and a learning experience, I have made many friendships that I hope will last for the years to come.  I give members of my healthcare committee special recognition. They are a great group of people and they’ll forever be in my heart.

Although I’m not closing the door on any future political aspirations, for now I must return home to continue my mission of chronicling the history Northeast Kingdom and its people. It’s a great place to call home, and to those of you not from the Kingdom, it is also a great place to visit.