Column: Citizens, thanks for opportunity to serve

The 2010 session recently wrapped up, and with it, so did my legislative career.

I wanted to use my final column to express my sincere gratitude for allowing me to serve and represent you in the Minnesota Senate for 18 years. It has been a fulfilling, educational, and at times challenging and humbling, experience. Without my constituents, I would have never had this opportunity.

In the Senate, I’ve been involved in the formation of some really important laws, both for our area and the entire state. I was pleased to be able to secure funding for improvements to the Red Wing port, expand the Eagle Center, and enhance the juvenile correctional facility to provide a quality vocational education for the kids — to name just a few.

As transportation chair, I’ve been fortunate to help pass several life-saving initiatives. In recent years, we’ve successfully provided the steady funding needed to keep our roads safe and maintained, instituted graduated licensing for teen drivers, and most importantly, enacted a primary seat belt law.

Topping it off, this year, I worked to expand the ignition interlock program, which will help prevent drunken driving and make our roads safer for all who use them.

Whether or not you voted for me or agreed with me on every issue, I’ve done my best to represent our area in a bipartisan and commonsense manner. In all my years, I learned that the most good can be accomplished when lawmakers can push party politics aside, take the time to listen to one another, and roll up our sleeves.

It’s then that we learn that we have more in common than we may think, and we all want what’s best for Minnesota. That’s the one piece of advice I’d give to my successor: be a strong and independent leader who’s willing to reach across the aisle to get things done.

Though my official service has ended, I’m not disappearing just yet.

My Senate office will remain open and staffed through the end of the year. So please, don’t hesitate to continue to call and write with your concerns.

I’ll also remain active and engaged in the issues and events that are important to our communities, so you’ll continue to see me out and about.

Thank you again for entrusting me to be your voice in St. Paul for the past 18 years. Though I know I will miss this public service, I do look forward to the family adventures that will soon fill my retirement: fishing with my grandson, traveling with my wife, and spending time with my sons.

Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, can be reached at (651) 385-7649

Tags: steve murphy, opinion, columns