Rep. Patti Komline, a moderate Republican from Dorset who’s served 12 years in the House, is not seeking reelection this year, she said Wednesday.

“You feel like it’s time for fresh ideas,” Komline said. “It’s time for me to start what my next thing is.”

She said she’s not sure exactly what that will be, but she plans to move to Montpelier and expects to work on legislative issues in some capacity.



Komline, 55, is a former House minority leader who serves on the House Ways & Means Committee. She is often among the most outspoken critics on taxes and education financing, but her politics are hard to peg.

She cited the 2009 passage of same-sex marriage as a highlight of her legislative career. Her vote in support of it put her at odds with most of the Republican caucus she was leading at the time. “That’s the one I could talk about right now and start to cry,” she said. “After having my kids, that’s the thing I was most proud of.”

Komline said she had hoped to find someone from her district to run in her place, but that hasn’t happened yet. “I’m announcing now so it gives people in my district a chance to consider running for my seat,” she said.

Komline is the latest legislative veteran to announce she won’t seek reelection as the May 26 candidate filing deadline nears. In the House, Reps. Tony Klein and Tim Jerman said last week they won’t be back. In the Senate, President Pro Tempore John Campbell announced his plans last week to leave the legislature.