Porkline

"The Singing Senator" Charlie Albertson, who has served in the state legislature for more than 20 years, will not seek a 10th term in the Senate this fall, he announced today.

"It continues to be a great honor to represent the people of the 10th Senate district, and I will always be grateful to my supporters, especially to those who asked me to seek another term. I will never forget you and I truly appreciate your faith in me," said Albertson, who turned 78 last week. "But after all these years, I believe it's time for me to step back and find other ways to become involved in helping my community."

Albertson has been a member of the North Carolina Senate since 1993, after serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1989 to 1992. In the Senate, Albertson is a key member of the Senate leadership team and has focused his efforts on working to help the farming community and to protect the state's natural resources, and on making government work better for the people of North Carolina.

Among his chief legislative accomplishments is the law that made North Carolina the first state in the southeast to require that utility companies get a portion of their power from renewable energy sources. He also sponsored legislation to create the state's first Climate Change Commission, upon which he serves as a member. He also successfully pushed legislation to make government more responsive to the public by requiring state agencies to give callers the option of speaking directly to a person instead of navigating through automated voicemail systems. He was most proud of legislation he wrote in 1995 that led to amending the N.C. Constitution to provide that criminals can pay restitution so that victims are compensated for their losses.

After chairing the Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources as well as the Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources for many years, in 2008 Albertson was appointed Co-Chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. He also serves as Secretary of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

"Charlie Albertson has been the Senate's leader on agricultural and environmental issues, and throughout his life he has always shown great compassion for others," Senate leader Marc Basnight said. "He also has been a wonderful example how to live with a positive attitude, strong character and integrity, and an incredible work ethic. Charlie is so quick with a joke and a smile, and he makes everyone around him smile too. I am so blessed to call him my friend and I will truly miss seeing him every day in the Senate."

Albertson enlisted in the N.C. National Guard and the U.S. Air Force and later worked as a PPQ officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He has become renowned as a country musician who has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and whose band has played in more than 26 countries, being honored by the U.S. Department of Defense for performing overseas for members of the Armed Forces. The "Singing Senator" has also written and sung jingles for UNC-TV, the Department of Transportation's litter campaign, and "Goodness Grows in North Carolina" for the Department of Agriculture. He has received numerous recognitions for his work in the community and the state, such as receiving the Long Leaf Pine Award from former Governor Jim Hunt and being honored with Charlie Albertson Day by his home county of Duplin. He is an elder in Beulaville Presbyterian Church.

Albertson is proud of his family: his wife Grace; his son Randy and his wife Karen; and his daughter Pam and her husband Mike. He loves his grandchildren Jordan, Amanda and Karla.

"I am living proof that dreams do come true. When I was younger, I always dreamed of serving in the Senate. Being here exceeded every expectation I had, and I will treasure these friendships and the things we've been able to achieve by working together," Albertson said. "I am excited about the next phase of my life and look forward to having other ways to be involved in my community and our great state. We are all neighbors on this planet of ours, and we should love, respect and help each other any way we can."