Fall River, New Bedford, Westport, Freetown and Acushnet State Rep not seeking re-election

A local politician is serving his last term in office.

8th Bristol District State Rep Paul Schmid announced Tuesday that he will not be seeking re-election.

“I want to take this opportunity to say I will not be seeking reelection this fall. It has been an incredible honor to represent the 8th Bristol District for more than 13 years. I want to thank everyone who has had confidence in me. Many say the Southcoast delegation is the best and I have been honored to work with each member; my Westport neighbor, Senator Rodrigues, and Senator Montigny, as well as Representatives Fiola, Silvia, Haddad, Howitt, Markey, Cabral, Hendricks, Straus and Orrall.

“A big thank you to Speaker Mariano for naming me co-chair of the first Joint Committee on Agriculture in the history of our state. I have worked to serve our farmers and to bring local, healthy food into our schools and urban areas. To my colleagues at the State House, on both sides of the aisle, my remarkable staff (Anthony, Stephanie, Jessica, Skylar, Jacob, Juliette, and Margery), and court officers, rangers, and state police alike, I am proud to call each of you a friend. I will forever respect your commitment to the people we serve.

“Most of all, I thank my wife, Tina, and our children, Celeste and Paul, and their families for their support since day one. They were always my secret sauce. I will cherish the knowledge that I was, for a time, part of the longest- serving democratic body in the world.

“May God bless the Commonwealth and the United States of America.”

The 8th Bristol consists of Precincts 2, and 3, of the town of Acushnet, Ward 1 Precinct A and Ward 6 Precincts A, B, of the city of Fall River, Precincts 2, 3, of the town of Freetown, and Ward 1 Precinct B1, and C, of the city of New Bedford, and the town of Westport, all in Bristol County.

Schmid assumed office in 2011 and his current term ends on January 1, 2025.

In addition to his time as state rep, the 80-year-old served on the Westport Board of Selectmen, five and a half years on the Westport Finance Committee, serving as chair for three years, and has served on the Westport Fire Station and Water and Sewer Committees.