Longtime State Senator Won't Seek Re-election
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- State Senator Shirley Kitchen announced Thursday that she'll retire at the end of her term, after 20 years of serving her North Philadelphia district.
If important friends are any way to judge, Senator Kitchen would be deemed a wild success by the turnout for her announcement: congressmen, councilmen, and legislative colleagues such as Anthony Williams sang her praises.
"Shirley Kitchen has kept the fire burning. She is the reason we're gathered in this room today," said Williams.
But "bittersweet" was the word of the hour, as they praised the candidate she's endorsing, Sharif Street, son of the former mayor.
"We are gathering together to witness a new era, a new generation," said Congressman Chaka Fattah.
Kitchen agreed the legislature has become a young person's game, with leadership she's found impossible to work with.
"You see we can't even get a budget passed," said Kitchen.
Kitchen has represented the district since 1996 and says the legislature has changed.