State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson rejected the state Senate's request for her resignation Thursday night, saying that the Senate voted hastily and her decision to stay in the seat shows she has the best interest of the district mind.

In a statement, Wilkerson said that she is respectful of the Senates unanimous call for her resignation but that she believes the Senate acted too quickly.

"Surely the members of the state senate could not have believed that such a monumental decision would be made within a few hours," the Boston Democrat said. "A decision like this could be comforting to some but could prove disastrous to others."

Democratic senators caucused Thursday for over two hours in Senate President Therese Murray's office before entering the chamber and, with the Republican joining them, voting unanimously to ask Wilkerson to resign in light of allegations she accepted $23,500 in bribes.

Wilkerson, who is continuing her general election write-in campaign against Sonia Chang-Diaz, said she has continued to receive calls from

constituents this week, including one from a family "that lost a child to violence" looking for help raising money for the child's funeral.

Wilkerson said she would not step down because the district would suffer without a senator.

"A decision to leave this district without representation, even for 60 days, is one that cannot and should not be made in a matter of hours," she said. "Rest assured I am committed to do what is in the best interest of the residents of this district."