Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Era to End in 2011

Washington D.C. will soon be without a Kennedy for the first time in more than sixty years. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) announced that he will not seek re-election to a 9th term.

Kennedy's term ends early next year, but in a video message released to press on Thursday he said that his life is "taking a new direction" and that he will not seek a ninth term. The 42-year-old son of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy did not give any reason behind his decision, but noted that it has been a difficult few years for many people and mentions the August 2009 death of his father.

Kennedy said:

"Illness took the life of my most cherished mentor and confidante, my ultimate source of spirit and strength," he said, as a black-and-white photo of him as a boy sailing with his father appeared on the screen. "From the countless lives he lifted, to the American promise he helped shape, my father taught me that politics at its very core was about serving others."

Kennedy's decision comes only a month after a shocking upset in Massachusetts, where Republican Scott Brown won the race for the Senate seat his father held for over forty years. When Brown was sworn in last week, Patrick Kennedy called Brown's candidacy a "joke" and predicted that he would betray his union supporters.

In the announcement, Kennedy did not specifically say what his plans were once his term ends, but did note that the would continue to fight for issues on behalf of those suffering from depression, addiction, autism, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The announcement will air on Rhode Island TV stations on Sunday.