WENATCHEE — A Wenatchee lawmaker with over a decade of experience in the legislature recently announced he will not be running for reelection.

12th Legislative District Rep. Cary Condotta, R-Wenatchee, will not be filing to run in the August primary. The 12th District covers all of Chelan and Douglas counties, as well as portions of Okanogan and Grant counties.

“It was a difficult decision. I have put my heart and soul into being a legislator for 16 years, but it takes a tremendous amount of time and commitment,” Condotta explained. “The recent sessions have lasted as long as six months and it is challenging to be gainfully employed while serving as a legislator. There are other new and exciting opportunities crossing my path, in and out of the 12th District I may not want to pass up.”

Condotta was elected to office back in 2002 and served as the top Republican on labor/business issues before heading up the House Commerce and Gaming Committee. He currently serves on the House Appropriations and Finance committees, which look over the budget, revenue and tax decisions.

“I am going out on a positive note, as we had a number of accomplishments for the 12th District this session. Tourism is a major economic driver for us, and we were able to get the companion bill to my tourism legislation signed into law,” Condotta said. “We also addressed water rights, the capital budget contained some great projects for our region, and I was able to pass some additional bills constituents brought to me.”

Although Condotta isn’t necessarily going to be in Olympia during future legislative sessions, he says he will be staying involved in politics in some capacity.

During the past session Condotta was the primary sponsor for bills concerning winery tasting rooms, tourism marketing, marijuana edibles/packaging, marijuana licenses, marijuana license deadlines, marijuana business licensing, marijuana merchandise, marijuana processor inspections, hunter education training, elderly prospective jurors, pipe tobacco shipping, minimum wage regionalization, marijuana revenue, fuel tax rate information, state property tax reduction, electric truck tractors, alternative fuel vehicle tax, marijuana product labeling, family residential development, retail sales for spirits, tow truck operators and the exemption of the regulation of explosives from public disclosure.

“It is tough to be leaving my Olympia family. However, the House Republican Caucus is in good hands. There are other Republican legislators retiring, but our leadership team is strong and we have a lot of quality young lawmakers,” Condotta stated. “Our caucus continues to work together and is an amazing team. That’s why it is so difficult to say goodbye, but now is the time.”

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.