The State Senate honored retiring Republican Clark Chapin of New Milford on the last day in session Wednesday.  He served two two-year terms representing the 30th District and 12 years before that in the House.  Chapin says 16 years has flown by.  He and his wife, former New Milford Mayor Pat Murphy, have been on the ballot 20 times.  He noted campaigns are fun for a while, but he is looking forward to not campaigning this fall. 

He said comments from his colleagues were very humbling, and he appreciated them.  His predecessor in the 30th District was Andrew Roraback, who had a perfect voting record.  Chapin says those were big shoes to fill, but he kept that streak going for his four years in the Senate.  He only missed two days in the House.

Chapin says he hopes the next chapter of his life matches the pleasure he has had in public service.  He has two adult sons who have been supportive and forgiving of times when he couldn't be at events because he was in session. 

He said he's tried to approach the job with a good balance of work ethic and humor. 

When the serious issue of potentially dangerous animals was debated several years ago, then Attorney General Richard Blumenthal advocated for the bill.  Some animals would have been grandfathered in, and amnesty period to turn in those animals.  Chapin says he and Representative Craig Miner found time for levity, and drafted an amendment allowing for the animals to be dropped off at the Attorney General's office.  Blumenthal reciprocated that humor in a letter to Chapin noting that some have equated attorneys in his office to sharks and snakes, so that drop off would have been fitting.