CENTRALIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this response to today’s announcement by Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, that she will not be seeking a new term as the 18th Legislative District’s state senator:

“Having served with Senator Rivers for more than a decade, from a neighboring district, I know how hard she has worked for the people of the 18th District, and our state. I also appreciate how she has been fearless in taking on our state’s most difficult problems, like making our roads safer by passing distracted-driver legislation, improving our criminal justice system by addressing the backlog in rape-kits, and being one of the leaders in the successful multi-year effort to come up with a new funding approach for our public K-12 schools.

“Because of her focus on finding solutions without concern for who receives the credit, she will leave the Senate with a legacy of policies aimed at improving the lives of all Washingtonians.

“I was very pleased that the City of Longview worked with her so that we at the Senate could benefit from her service for a few more years. Ann has always been someone who gives every commitment her all, so it is with appreciation and understanding that we wish her all the best as she moves on from the Senate. We will deeply miss her dedicated service, leadership, humor and energy.”