From an editorial in Saturday's (Raleigh) News & Observer:

The air and water are cleaner, the streets are safer, the spouses due alimony and child support have an easier chance of getting it. And that's just for starters.

The 32-year legislative career of Democratic Rep. Joe Hackney, who has represented Orange and Chatham Counties and part of Moore County, is coming to an end with his announcement Thursday that he won't seek re-election. Hackney and his colleague, Democratic Rep. Verla Insko, were "redistricted" into the same district by Republican lawmakers. Insko will run. The 66-year-old Hackney, a lawyer and cattle farmer, will not.

He is basically a victim of Republicans' targeted redistricting, by which the party's leaders simply went after some of the General Assembly's strongest Democrats.

Hackney rose through the ranks to become speaker of the House following the disastrous reign of Jim Black, who went to federal prison on corruption charges. Hackney was the right tonic for a body that badly needed to restore its reputation. He has been open, a straight shooter, fair to those of his own party and not brutal, figuratively speaking, with those of the opposing party. He had to surrender the speakership after Republicans won control of the House in the 2010 elections.

He has been competent, fully informed on legislation, and essentially a part of just about every bill that had to do with protecting consumers and preserving a safe environment for future generations. This lawmaker believes in government's role in helping ordinary citizens, and stood by ethics rules that some of his colleagues would just as soon have forgotten.

This will be a loss. The legislature needs more people like Joe Hackney, not fewer.