[img_assist|nid=1568|title=State Sen. Iris Estabrook (D-Durham)|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=150|height=217]State Sen. Iris Estabrook (D-Durham) has decided not to run for a fourth term.

"I no longer feel I can commit the level of time and energy I believe is necessary to fill this leadership role," Estabrook said in a press release.  "It has been an honor to have served in the New Hampshire Legislature and an experience that will stay with me throughout my life."

During this term, Estabrook served as the Senate Vice President for Policy and chairwoman of the Senate Education and Health and Human Services committees.

Estabrook represents Senate District 21 which includes Dover, Durham, Epping, Lee and Rollinsford. Her district is considered to be a safe Democratic seat.

She joins state senators Peter Burling (D-Durham) and David Gottesman (D-Nashua) in deciding not to run for re-election.

Update: "Throughout her career in public office, Iris Estabrook has been a tireless voice for New Hampshire families.  I have known and worked with Iris for years and she has been an invaluable member of the State Senate," former governor Jeanne Shaheen said. "We are all grateful to her for her unwavering advocacy for early childhood education and the work she has done to improve the quality of education for children in New Hampshire.  I wish Iris the very best in the future and we all thank her for the work she has done on behalf of New Hampshire families."

Update 2: "In her decade of public service in the legislature, Iris Estabrook has been a strong advocate of children and working families, and a powerful voice for education," Governor John Lynch said in a press release. "I want to thank Iris for her service to her constituents and to the State of New Hampshire. I wish her all the best."

Update 3: "For the past dozen years, Sen. Estabrook has been the chief advocate of education in the Senate, and her knowledge, leadership and passion will be sorely missed," said Ray Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.  "I served with her for three terms in the House and have worked with her during her time in the Senate, and her work ethic and issue expertise have been incomparable."