Dear Neighbors & Friends: It is with much sadness and regret that I write to tell you that I have resigned my seat on Rockland's City Council. Since my mother's death last summer I have struggled to find the time, and more critically the emotional energy, to meet the demands of serving on Council.

I deeply appreciate the six years that I have been fortunate to serve as one of your representatives on City Council. I am thankful for the time many of you have shared with me to discuss projects and issues and challenges and opportunities in our community.

I was looking forward to working for a year with Will Clayton as Mayor. Will did a great job chairing the Council in 2013. I was looking forward to working again with Tom Luttrell as Finance Director. Tom has always worked hard for the City.

And, I have been very impressed with the job Audra Caler-Bell is doing for the community as Acting City Manager. Also, I am confident Nathan Davis and Brooks Winner and Dave St. Laurent will do a better job with city energy projects than I was ever able to do. I could go on down a list of folk with whom it has been great to work.

Looking beyond City Government, it has been an honor over the past six years to have the opportunity to see and encourage the many positive things individuals, businesses, and community organizations have done and continue to do all across Rockland.

But, I have always been one to do my best to recognize a mistake and take whatever steps I can to correct for it. I should not have run for a third term. At this point in history Rockland needs someone on Council with more capacity to serve the Community than I have. Thank you for your past support.

Press On!

Larry R. Pritchett lives in Rockland.