Last February, I announced my intention to retire from the Wisconsin State Legislature after 24 years in elected office, 22 of which were in the legislature. The deadline for this article is before the Nov. 3 general election. I hope its publication will coincide with a well-run election here in Wisconsin and with a clear presidential choice by voters.

I have lived in and loved Wisconsin for most of my life. I was proud to live in a state that was a national leader in environmental protection, human rights and workers’ rights; a state that boasted one of the best public education systems in the country and a world-class university; a state with one of the highest rates of health insurance coverage; and a national reputation for clean, honest and effective government.

I ran for office hoping to address the areas where we needed improvement, namely, expanding health insurance for every Wisconsin resident; making Wisconsin’s education system available to all Wisconsin students; protecting Wisconsin’s environment, particularly the valuable waters of the state; and raising wages for all Wisconsin residents, especially those at the bottom. My hope was to make progress by adding Wisconsin to the top 10 list in additional desirable categories that measure the health and well-being of the people of our state.

I was able to move Wisconsin in that direction briefly but am saddened to see that we have lost ground since 2011. One thing I hope Wisconsin will always have is the Midwest neighborliness that I have experienced all these years as a Wisconsinite and as your senator — a neighborliness that values honesty, hard work and empathy for others.

Thank you for your trust in allowing me to be your representative in the legislature these past 20 years. It was an honor to serve you.