At the 2015 annual Falmouth Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner all of the local politicians were invited on stage to have their chance at the microphone. State Rep. Tim Madden was among them.

“My contribution tonight is that I will not be speaking,” he said.

Mr. Madden’s statement, met with laughter and applause, encapsulates his style as our state representative. Never seeking the spotlight, Mr. Madden has been working diligently behind the scenes for the benefit of the Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket District since his election in 2008.

Though he has avoided headlines, Mr. Madden’s contributions to the community are no less noteworthy. More than $25 million in federal and state aid has been secured for the district due in part to the efforts of his office. From grants for the Steamship Authority and sea scallop cultivation to funding for recreational trails on Nantucket and electric car charging stations in Falmouth and on the islands, one need not look far to see tangible evidence of his dedication to his community.

Having worked in Representative Madden’s State House office myself, I have also witnessed the intangible impact he has made while in the legislature. Nowhere in Boston will you find a politician or staffer bearing ill will towards the “gentleman from Nantucket.”

With a desk placed strategically to catch the ear of the Speaker of the House, and a close working relationship with other lawmakers of both parties, Mr. Madden has always been ready to lend his quiet yet significant influence to any and all causes he deemed worthy. From protecting the interests of small businesses like Bed & Breakfasts from unjust regulation to standing for equal opportunity for women and members of the LGBTQ community, he has left an indelible mark on statewide policy.

On the personal side, Mr. Madden’s compassion is evident in the countless notes he has sent out to his constituents in thanks, congratulations, condolence, or concern—always eager to let people know he is there for them in every way.

Mr. Madden’s departure from the legislature is a loss for our community, though undoubtedly a welcome change for the Madden family, which has been dealing with his multi-vehicular commute between Boston and Nantucket for years. Any successor in his office would do well to remember the Tip O’Neill adage that Mr. Madden so well embodied: “All politics is local.”

Mr. Madden listened and looked out for his constituents, treating each of them with the same respect he showed the Governor and President of the United States. Falmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Gosnold have been changed for the better thanks to Tim Madden. And now may he enjoy a well-earned island retirement.

Thomas Moakley worked as intern for Tim Madden during the summer of 2015.

Mr. Madden will be the featured speaker at the next Gazette Tuesdays in the Newsroom series to be held on April 5. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception.