Retired state representative urges new spirit of cooperation

To the residents of the 54th District: I want to thank you for giving me the tremendous opportunity to serve as your state representative for the past 12 years.

It was an exhilarating experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It was educational, challenging, rewarding, frustrating at times, but never boring! Fighting for good government was what propelled my career from the beginning and fueled it to the end.

Although I didn’t accomplish all that I set out to do, I leave office with my head held high, knowing that I tried my utmost to do what was best for the people in my district — to represent them well, to balance the interests of the many with the few, and to give them all a voice in Springfield.

This was no easy task — and oftentimes, an unpopular one that demanded tough choices and difficult decisions.

For the past 12 years, I have been part of the political process that has produced tremendous highs and lows in state government. This has been a wild ride, but I am eternally grateful for the journey ... and for all the wonderful people whom I’ve met along the way.

As the new General Assembly convenes next week, I wish my colleagues much success and sincerely hope that they can bring an end to the intense partisan politics that has plagued the state house for the past few years — polarizing the legislature and paralyzing it by favoring conflict over consensus, ego over compromise.

Only by working together can we truly achieve good government and pass effective legislation that has the best interests of the people at heart! Godspeed, my friends!

Suzie Bassi

Retired, state representative, 54th district