Today State Assemblywoman Patricia Egan Jones (D-NJ-5) announced that she would not seek re-election to the General Assembly this year but would serve the remainder of her term in office, which expires in January 2020.

“I have had a rich career in public service, forty-five years total, twenty-two as an elected official, and now I’m wrapping up a rewarding legislative career in the General Assembly. There simply comes a time when one needs to look in a different direction, so in 2020 I will be doing just that and lucky to be able to write the next chapter.

“This has been a labor of love going back to my time as Chief-of-Staff to my mentor, the late State Senator Walter Rand, and as Chief-of-Staff to former Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. It has truly been an honor to serve in the same district as these statesmen.

“The greatest thing about serving in elective office has been helping people from all walks of life and solving all kinds of problems — from simple constituent service requests to more complex legislative matters which can impact millions of New Jerseyans.

“I am particularly proud to have played a role in bringing funding fairness to South Jersey’s public schools, some of which were denied their fair share in state aid for far too long, the renewal of the Transportation Trust Fund, Equal Pay legislation, and some of the toughest gun laws in the nation.

“I want to thank the voters of Camden and Gloucester counties who entrusted me with their vote and to the many friends and supporters I’ve met along the way from my service as a Barrington Borough Councilwoman, Camden County Freeholder, Camden County Surrogate, and member of the New Jersey General Assembly.”