Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, R-Wenatchee, offered this statement after Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom announced Monday he will not seek re-election to another Senate term. Tom, D-Bellevue, has been leader since the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus formed in December 2012 and assumed leadership of the state Senate the following month.

“Senator Tom was very candid about how he is stepping away from public office for reasons related to health and family – and there can be no better reasons than those. While it is a loss for the people he has served for more than a decade, and for me as chair of the Majority Coalition Caucus, I completely understand and support his decision.

“Senator Tom shares my belief that bipartisanship can succeed in Olympia, not just with a particular bill or within a certain committee but on a much larger scale. While there is still much work to do, families and college students and school districts and employers across Washington are already reaping the benefits of the changes he has helped to make in state government’s course.

“Each time the MCC was challenged these past two years, Rodney responded by focusing on the shared principles that brought our mix of Republicans and Democrats together in the first place: jobs, education and a sustainable budget. He was willing to put his personal preferences on the shelf when the situation required it and remained a gentleman when things got tense, as they so often do when critical decisions are needing to be made. We need more leadership like that in Olympia, not less. He will be missed.”

With Senate Majority Leader Tom on March 3, 2014 in the Senate chamber in Olympia.