WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) issued
the following statement today:
After months of thinking about my political future, I am announcing
today that I have decided not to run for re-election in 2012. As
many of you can imagine, it was a very difficult decision for
me. However, I feel that the end of this Congress is the
right time for me to step aside. It has been a great honor and
privilege to serve the people of Hawaii. In 2006, the people of
Hawaii gave me an opportunity to continue my service in the United
States Senate and I fully intend to serve the last two years of my term
in office.
At the end of this term, I will have served almost 22 years in the
United States Senate and, prior to that, more than 13 years in the
United States House of Representatives. I am proud of my
accomplishments and my incredible staff in Washington, D.C. and
Hawaii. They have exemplified the true meaning of being a public
servant. They have worked tirelessly and without their
dedication and loyalty, I could not have accomplished all that I
did.
Millie and I will return to Hawaii at the end of this Congress and
spend time with our children, grandchildren and great
grandchildren. I would also like to spend time documenting my
life and career, and serving as a mentor to future political
leaders. I have always strived to serve the people with
much love and aloha, never forgetting my humble beginnings, and it is
my hope that they, too, will continue this tradition. We
must never forget that we, as political leaders, work for the people of
Hawaii and not the special interests.
I will always cherish the time I spent working in Washington, D.C., and
extend my heartfelt thanks to the people of Hawaii for their confidence
in me.
I would like to thank my family, my staff and my friends for their
unwavering support. I would like to especially thank my wife,
Millie, for her continuous support and encouragement. I could not
have done it without her.
Finally, I would like to thank Senator Dan Inouye. I will forever be
grateful for his friendship and steadfast support.
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