WILLIAMS ANNOUNCES THAT SHE WILL NOT SEEK ANOTHER TERM

HARRISBURG, DEC. 26 – State Sen. Connie Williams today announced that she would not seek reelection to another term in the state Senate.

In a letter to her friends and supporters, Williams wrote:

"For 11 wonderful years it has been an honor and my privilege to serve in the Pennsylvania legislature and to represent the citizens of the 17^th Senatorial District. I am proud of my legislative initiatives and civic accomplishments and am thankful for all the wonderful people I have met.

"The time has come, however, for someone else to have the incredible opportunity that I have had. I will finish this term, which ends Nov. 30, 2008, and do not intend to run for reelection.

"I will miss my official invitations to the fire company banquets, the little league and football games, the community fairs and pancake breakfasts, but I will still go. I will continue to advocate for quality education, for access to health care, for women and children, for economic equality for working women and women-owned businesses and for a healthy environment.

"I have been involved in politics since I was a girl and I intend to stay involved and to fight for what I believe in. It will just not be as an elected official."

Williams' legislative career began in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1997, where she served as representative to Pennsylvania's 149^th Legislative District. She held the position until running in a special election for the seat of retiring state Sen. Richard Tilghman. Williams was sworn in as a state Senator on December 3, 2001. She sought and won re-election in 2004 for a full term. In 2005, Williams was elected to Senate Leadership as Democratic Caucus Administrator.

 Thus far in her legislative career, Williams has successfully fought for additional protections for children in child care; common-sense firearm safety; greater protections for victims of domestic violence; funding for open space preservation and expanded environmental protection in her district and across the Commonwealth; and most recently for a woman's freedom to breastfeed in public.

She continues to advocate for equal pay and opportunity for women, school-level policy to prevent student bullying and intimidation, and a new statewide program to allow people to recycle old computers and televisions (both of which contain lead).

 In her district, she has worked closely with local municipalities to advance community projects and revitalization efforts. Williams is known for her open door policy, as well as her annual Kids' Fair at Elmwood Park Zoo, Good Government Day, Librarian of the Year Awards and Senior Expo. All of which Williams plans to continue in the New Year.

 Williams said that she would pursue an extensive agenda in 2008, including uncompleted legislative activity on election reform, open records and an energy independence strategy. She said that she would continue to work with her colleagues and the administration to make health care more available and affordable for everyone.

 As Democratic chair of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee, Williams said she looked forward to taking a closer look at how the state can work with various stakeholders, including the medical community to advance the use of telemedicine.

 "Advances in technology have already begun to transform health care and Pennsylvania must be prepared for this new era," Williams said. "I'm excited to be part of the transformation, which will lead to more available and affordable health care."

 Williams has not abandoned her goal of helping women and will continue her work to establish a new policy that would require all hospitals to inform rape victims of all of their options, including access to emergency contraception and she will continue her fight for prescription equity, so that women with health insurance policies that cover prescription drugs can count on those policies covering the cost of prescription contraceptives.

 "When I came of age in the 60s, there weren't as many opportunities for women as there are today," Williams said. "I hope that my work in Harrisburg will have opened new doors for women and that my service is an example of what you can achieve if you stand up for what you believe in."