(The ?enate of 333251 ?ttginfa Charleston ??39 +9 1 -. R1 CHARD git/?Ea Smut: CAPITOL, ROOM \Y-v213 Sig; 1900 BLVD. EAST 7T '7 .. CHARLESTON, . .H buxuomu Dismicr . ?i . \Ma" (or 304-33 - - '83? gea?iil?i??gi" 09? Senator Mitch Carmichael, President ?00! West Virginia Senate Room 227M, Building 1 State Capitol Complex Charleston, West Virginia 25305 14 January 2019 Dear President Carmichael; Please accept this letter of formal resignation from my seat as Senator for the Seventh District effective close of business today. i do not resign nor out of anger or surrender, but because it would be unfair to leave this seat empty, with no voice for my district as pursue my charted course. it has been an honor to have served in this revered Chamber and to have been entrusted with protecting and furthering the good works for the citizens who elected me and for West Virginians as a whole. Frustrating at times, yes, but a true honor. As stated in earlier remarks from the floor, all that I have worked for, strived for, was not for any personal benefit or glory for myself but for the benefit of the people of our wonderful state. it is hard to stand by, nay impossible, and not take to heart the serious issues facing our neighbors, our family, our friends. And in respect to this, it is my sincere hope that the promise made by the governor to our teachers for the additional raise and cash infusion will be passed in a clean bill. A bill that will not attack their hard-earned tenure. At least working side by side with Russell Williams, learning about the many non?addictive pain management benefits of medical cannabis, i am glad we sensibly became the 29th state to legitimize this natural, God-given plant. To my brothers in the Democratic party, thank you for your knowledge, guidance, and friendship. It has been a true honor to serve with you and to fight the good fight. it is the frustration of not having been able to do more, and my belief that i. cannot help remedy other serious issues facing West Virginia by directly working within this body, within the state, that today Richard N. Ojeda ll, do hereby resign my office as Senator for the 7th District. I sincerely hope that the Governor remains honorable to his office, does right by my constituents, and selects a strong Democrat. One who is 991 a lobbyist or a friend. One who stands proudly and honestly for the district. the irborne all the way. Richard N. Ojeda, ll Senator, District 7 RO:ly Cc: Lee Cassis, Clerk of the Senate