Today is my last day of being the senator for Jones and Onslow Counties. It has been a humbling sixteen years of serving the people of these two great counties. As I think back and start thinking of all the good things that have happened in my district and the state in those years I honestly feel a great sense of accomplishment.

Locally we now have a new K-12 school in Jones County, a new Career Tech center, new Air Traffic Control Tower, a new Mental Health Center and the completion of the Montford Point Marine Memorial in Onslow County. These are just a few of the things I was able to help get completed. On the state level being able to rise to the position of Majority Leader for 10 years and a chief budget writer for 7 years was very rewarding. I was able to help produce sensible budgets that took care of the needs in the state while maintaining savings for the future making NC one of the best managed states in the nation according to many sources.

Other legislation that I introduced like broadband expansion across the state, creating a dredging fund for our inlets, and a change in how sales tax is distributed, which created close to a million dollars yearly for my two counties plus many other poor low wealth counties, will have an affect for many years.

In closing I want to thank my family and all the people who supported me through the years and to thank Mike Lazzara for his contributions to our county and wish him great success as our new senator.