District 92 Rep. Dr. Jim Barnett announced today he will not berunning for re-election and will retire after four terms in theMississippi Legislature.

The decision was a hard one, said Barnett, adding he wouldalways be available to his constituents – whether in office orretired – and that it took much time, consideration and prayer.

“Roberta and I have really prayed over this. Sixteen years is along time,” said Barnett during today’ Brookhaven-Lincoln CountyChamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast the Western Sizzlin inBrookhaven. “You can retire from the military in 20 years.”

Meanwhile, his son, Paul Barnett, confirmed following thebreakfast that he is planning to run for the District 92 seat. Thedistrict includes portions of Lincoln, Franklin and Copiahcounties.

Dr. Barnett, who will be 81 years old at the end of this term,has seen all manner of things in his time in office.

Not the least of those was Hurricane Katrina. He workedemergency triage centers in the Brookhaven area, but he also wentto the coast with other politicians to take stock of thedamage.

Barnett said for these reasons, as well as thousands of others,being in the Legislature has been an experience he has trulycherished.

“I’ve cherished the camaraderie, the friendships with thelegislators and the people from all over the state that I’ve comeclose to,” he said. “We’ve been able to accomplish a great deal forour district.”

Though he was chosen “Legislator of the Year” in 2000 by theAmerican Legislative Exchange Council, his personal accolades arenot as important to Barnett as the ones he was able to bring aboutfor his voters.

Among the many major victories he counts for the district areseveral health care and trauma bills, as well as authoring a billin 1996 for a juvenile mental health facility in Brookhaven.

Other highlights included securing a new National Guard Armoryand Highway Patrol Building for the area, the Rainy Day Fund, andauthoring a bill that banned the state’s recognition of gaymarriages in 2004. He is also a staunch supporter of the militaryand has worked on several bills dealing with military affairs.

“But the crowning jewel is the Mississippi School for the Arts,”he said, pointing out the eight-story Student Life Center, which isthe tallest building between Jackson and New Orleans. “My wife wasa big help to me on that.”

On top of what he’s accomplished, though, Barnett prides himselfon having always been available to his constituents.

Since he moved to Brookhaven to practice medicine 50 years ago,he has always had a listed phone number so that patients andmembers of District 92 could reach him day or night. His wife of 43years, Roberta, said in that way, the two really weren’t sodivergent.

“And really as I see, it the practice of medicine and serving asa legislator work so well hand in hand,” she said. “It’s caring forpeople and what he’s done all his life is to have a love for peopleand wanting to help them.”

It’s that heart for people and desire to help them that come tomind first when almost anyone discusses Barnett, but his intellectand integrity are not far behind.

“He’s an excellent medical reference on legislative issues andhe’s got a lot of common sense,” said his longtime friend andfellow legislator, Herb Frierson of Poplarville. “But mostimportant, his credibility is solid.”

Barnett said the decision not to run for office was based onmany things, not the least of which is the already full life heleads as a full-time husband, father, grandfather, hunter,fisherman, and pilot.

“If I could take birthdays out of it, I would stay in theLegislature forever,” he said. “But I think it might be time tomove on.”