Speaker Hamett Won't Seek Re-election

Speaker of the House Seth Hammett, D-Andalusia will not seek re-election at the end of this four year term.

Hammett made an announcement Friday before making a motion for the House adjourn sine die.

Hammett gave no specific reason for his resignation, but said the following:

"Members I want to tell you here this afternoon a decision I have made...I'm not going to be a candidate for re-election in 2010. I want you to hear this directly from me and hear it here in this chamber. I want you to know to know this decision was hard for me to make. I made it in consultation with my family and it is one I've given very careful thought for the last several months.

"The reason I would make this decision known at this time is because the election season is upon us. It begins June 1 and I think I need to make this decision known now. This is not the time to thank all the people I need to thank...I'm not going anywhere unless you all throw me out. I'll still be speaker for the next 20 months. So you've still got some more flow charts to put up with and some items of substance to deal with."

Hammett was elected to the House in 1978. He has served as presiding officer of the House since 1999. His current term ends January 2011. Hammett is one of only two speakers to serve three terms as presiding officer of the House.


-- posted by Markeshia Ricks