Kathy Ashe Retires from State House
State Rep. Kathy Ashe (D-Atlanta), a former Republican-turned Democrat who recently headed up the Fulton County delegation to the House, has resigned.
“Dear Friends, I want you to be among the first to know of a difficult decision I have made: I will not run for re-election this year,” Ashe wrote in her letter to supporters dated April 10, 2012.
“While I am confident that I could win with hard work and the backing you and other supporters have generously provided over the years, I want to spend my time and resources more productively than the current polarized political situation permits,” Ashe wrote.
“As a ‘raging moderate’ I am caught between the far right and the far left. The computerized reapportionment process has across the country drawn districts that force primaries to the extremes. There are very few districts where moderation and consensus prevail. In the Georgia General Assembly, as in Congress, moderation is endangered and often scorned or marginalized. I regret that I do not see change coming soon,” Ashe wrote.
Ashe quoted US Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), one of the last moderate Republicans who recently also announced her retirement.
“When my current term expires in January 2013, I will have been privileged to serve 21 1/2 years and will be 66 years young. I will continue to serve actively until January…”
Ashe also offered to return any campaign contributions received for the upcoming election, noting that any donations not returned will be used on projects in her District.