Dear Friends,

I want to congratulate Senator-Elect Das on her new opportunity to serve South King County in the Washington State Senate. I look forward to supporting her during the transition in any way I can.

The past eight years have been the most professionally rewarding time in my life. I’m so grateful to my supporters, friends, constituents, and colleagues for giving me the opportunity to serve.

I especially thank my family, and most of all my wife, Steffanie. Public service is incredibly demanding on a family; few recognize the daily sacrifices that our loved ones must make.

During my time in office, I tried to be a bridge between parties and ideologies. Our modern political culture creates plenty of partisan warriors but far too few diplomats. For our State and Country to thrive, we must start listening to one another with open minds and open hearts. We cannot fear what we see as different. We cannot vilify one another as a way of grasping for power. Only a free, open, and respectful society is capable of facing and overcoming the challenges before us.

While I will miss the endless challenges and rewards of legislative service, these election results widen the door to my family and two young boys who need and deserve a full-time dad who has been largely absent during the long winter months of the previous legislative sessions.

Elected service in America is not prestigious. We are all just everyday citizens who are called, for a time, to give what we can on behalf of our neighbors. That is the system I love and trust. Thank you for putting your trust in me these past two terms. I’m so proud of what we have accomplished together.

With gratitude,

Joe

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