Sen Allie-Allison Petrus did, indeed, discuss retirement at the press conference he held Monday morning in the Senate chambers. But his focus was not on the controversial government employees retirement bill before the Legislature. It was on himself.
"I've always been an advocate of term limits, since I began serving in 1994," Petrus said, "and I think it's time for my exit from public service."
Noting that he has been working toward a master of business administration degree at the Univrsity of the Virgin Islands as a part-time student, he said he is setting his sights now on a role in the private sector.
But Petrus also said New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's announcement over the weekend that for health reasons he was dropping out of the U.S. Senate race in the state of New York affected his decision. "As Giuliani said, ‘Politics isn't everything.'" Petrus said. "There's a world of opportunities out there, and I don't want to look back on my life with any regrets."
Petrus noted that on two occasions he proposed legislation limiting the terms of senators, "and, of course, they failed." He said senators staying in office beyond their useful years usually enter a "period of diminishing usefulness" wherein "they become good politicians and terrible policymakers."
He characterized a politician as "one who disengages the brain and uses the emotions" and a policymaker as one who "addresses the issues using numbers and facts."
"I am a terrible politician and an excellent policymaker," Petrus said. He cited among his accomplishments in the Legislature the passage of bills dealing with sex offenders, vocational education, food cooperatives, protection for retired Government Employees Retirement Service members, acceptance of medical insurance by pharmacy and laboratory service providers, recreational facilities in multifamily housing developments and autonomy for the hospitals.
With a smile, he deflected questions about the politically charged retirement bill currently before the Senate — which the news media had anticipated would be the focus of his press conference. He said the measure, which includes provision for senators to retire at full pay after 12 years in office, is in the hands of the Government Operations Committee.
He expressed hope that the 24th Legislature will "encourage outside investment" in the territory.
He thanked all of his colleagues as well as wife, Beverly, for their support. He said his wife approves of his decision — "in fact, she'll probably be throwing a party later today."
Calling the 23rd Legislature the most "productive and cohesive I've worked with," Petrus said with a grin that one of the things he will miss in the Senate chambers is the verbal sparring, "especially with Sen. Bryan."
Petrus got a standing ovation from all of the other senators present — Gregory Bennerson, Lorraine Berry, Donald "Ducks" Cole, Roosevelt David, Adlah "Fonsie" Donastorg, Judy Gomez, George Goodwin, David Jones, Almando "Rocky" Liburd and Vargrave Richards.
