Cape and Islands Rep. Timothy Madden announced late Thursday that he will not run for reelection in the district he has represented since 2008.

Mr. Madden said it was an honor to serve Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and parts of Falmouth in the state legislature. A Nantucket resident, he said traveling back and forth from the district has taken a toll.

“I wanted to spend more time at home with my family and kids,” Mr. Madden told the Gazette by phone. “It’s a terrific job. If there were a bridge, or I could work from home, it would be great, but you can’t. My wife wants me at home, surprisingly,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve got a granddaughter. I just feel before I signed up for an additional term I really had to give it some thought.”

A press release went out Thursday afternoon announcing the news.

“It has been a privilege and an honor to serve as representative for the Cape and Islands,” the four-term representative said in the release. “I truly believe it is the most special district in the commonwealth. Not only is it beautiful, but it has some of the most bright, caring and conscientious constituents one could hope to represent.”

Mr. Madden said he decided to make the announcement now in order to be fair to other candidates seeking the seat. The last day to file nomination papers for the state primary election is May 3. The primary is Sept. 8; the general election is Nov. 8.

Mr. Madden said he struggled with the decision, and it was a relief to finally make it. He told his staff and some of his colleagues at the State House Thursday.

“People asked me why are you in such a good mood,” he said. “I think partially it’s getting past making up my mind. There have been mixed emotions.”

He assured constituents that he would be working on a number of issues in the coming months, and will be available to provide assistance for the residents of the district until the end of the year.

He said he is proud of his accomplishments as a lawmaker.

“I have framed prints of the first three bills I got done on my wall. It worked out lovely because they were from each part of the district,” he told the Gazette.

He said the first bill he sponsored for Martha’s Vineyard was a measure to provide an exemption to the two per cent land bank fee on the sale of property for first-time home buyers.

During his years as a state representative, he worked to modify Oceans Act legislation, which would have allowed wind power turbines close to the Vineyard shoreline, and would have eliminated any role for the Martha’s Vineyard Commission.

He cosponsored legislation to establish a saltwater fishing license for recreational fishermen. Fees from the license sales go to support science and conservation programs.

He recently shepherded legislation to create a Martha’s Vineyard license plate, with proceeds to go to social service programs at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services.

Earlier this year, he secured funding for a transportation access program, providing up to $750 for Vineyard residents who need to make regular trips off-Island for treatment of a long-term illness.

When his term ends next January, Mr. Madden will have spent 18 years on Beacon Hill, the last eight as the representative for the district. For 10 years before that, he served as the legislative liaison for Nantucket under the previous state Rep. Eric Turkington.

When he began his term, he was the first Islander to serve as state representative in 30 years. Before that there was a legislative district exclusively covering Martha’s Vineyard, and another covering Nantucket, but they were eliminated by redistricting.

Mr. Madden won election in 2008 as an independent candidate by a comfortable margin of 2,000 votes, in part by securing 89 per cent of the vote on Nantucket.

The impending storm forecast for the region on Friday evening proved a reminder of the difficult commute to the State House. He said he has spent too much time at a Hyannis hotel because of weather or late nights in Boston.

“I’ve already made my reservations for the Marriott because I’m not sure I’ll make it home,” he said. “I spent last Friday night at the Marriott. In the last month there have been three weekend nights I haven’t made it home. I’m going to miss so many parts of it, but I won’t miss chasing the boat, and I won’t miss the Marriott.”

His voice catching, he concluded: “I’ve so much enjoyed the job and the people. But my heart and my gut are telling me something.”