State Rep. Charles Curtiss resigns from seat

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Democratic State Rep. Charles Curtiss has stepped down after serving as a Tennessee lawmaker for 19 years.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press (http://bit.ly/1atRwnC) reports he officially resigned on New Year’s Day. He announced in October that he wouldn’t run again for his District 43 seat that includes Grundy, Warren and White counties. He said at the time he wanted to give candidates considering the seat time to plan a campaign.

He said he decided to resign after being hired as executive director of the Tennessee County Commissioners Association. The organization lobbies lawmakers on behalf of counties.

Curtiss told the newspaper on Monday that resigning his seat was a condition of being named to the post.

By law, he will have to wait a year before he can begin lobbying lawmakers.