From State Rep. Charlie Brown: Thank you for the opportunity to serve

As some may already know, the 2018 legislative session was my last session as a State Representative as I decided not to seek re-election this fall. My term as a representative of Indiana House District 3 will come to an end on November 6, 2018. I will always be thankful for the opportunity to serve on behalf of the people of Northwest Indiana.

I am humbled by the trust bestowed by the people in allowing me to pursue public service through the years – a career that has become my life and my passion. I am proud of my work to author the statewide Healthy Indiana Plan that has resulted in affordable, quality care for thousands of Hoosiers. CHOICE allows senior citizens to stay in their homes, Hoosier Rx helps with the cost of prescriptions and Hoosier Healthwise offers care to children and pregnant women. It was my honor to be involved in the establishment of all of these programs.

Numerous smoking initiatives have resulted in more pleasant experiences in restaurants, additional programs to help people quit smoking and relief from the dangers of secondhand smoke. My bipartisan proposal to raise the smoking age to 21 received a unanimous vote in committee this year, but was not heard on the House floor. I hope others will pick up that fight in the future.

We expanded early education programs for our youngest learners, passed landmark legislation to combat childhood obesity and made improvements to immunization policies. Economic development, including an aggressive expansion of the South Shore Line and continued support for the Gary/Chicago International Airport, has resulted in good-paying careers for Northwest Indiana residents.

Rest assured, I am not going anywhere. I will be at home in Lake County fighting alongside everyone else for families, children and senior citizens. It’s just time for someone else to take the lead at the Statehouse.