My family and I have been deeply touched and truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of

support and ongoing encouragement that I've received to run for U.S. Congress in New
York's 19th district. I am humbled by it all and thank each and every one of you for the
faith and unwavering trust you have placed in me.

This decision has truly been one of the most difficult of my professional life and one that
I have not taken lightly. I know in my heart that as extraordinary as our Country is, the
fact remains, we have yet to achieve our full potential. A Model Nation that embraces all
people, one that remains a beacon of freedom, equality and hope and one that leads
globally on other meaningful issues like environmental protection and defending the
basic human dignity of all; including access for all to quality healthcare in a Nation of
such great wealth.

I share with millions of my fellow Americans profound concern and frustration about the
current direction of our Country. The divisive tone, irresponsible behavior and harmful
policies emanating from our Nation's Capital threaten to undermine the very foundation
of our great democracy and rob from an entire generation access to the inclusive
American Dream that everyone deserves.

Within our precious democracy, I also have great respect for the critical importance of
honest, dedicated local officials serving in pivotal positions all across America who
directly impact each and every one of us, every single day. The long term effect of these
often unsung leaders on our collective future can, at its best, be nothing short of
transformative.

As the Ulster County Executive, I take great pride in the creative and positive reforms
that we have been able to deliver to help our Veterans, seniors, students, families and,
especially, those among us most in need. I have had the privilege to work with a
dedicated team who I believe are some of the finest individuals anywhere. At my core, I
know that real leadership comes with compassion and respect for human dignity as well
as an unwavering commitment to science, facts and our responsibility to leave our
environment much better than we found it. We have accomplished so much together
while simultaneously lowering the property tax burden on hard working middle class
families, growing a sustainable local economy and helping spur nothing short of a
renaissance in Ulster County.
That said, major challenges still remain and there is much work left to do. Fortunately, if
we remain bold, this very special moment in time also provides a unique opportunity to
deliver an even brighter future for the great people of Ulster County for generations to
come... So after much reflection I have made the very personal decision not to run for
Congress in 2018 and instead to remain focused locally on doing everything in my power
to directly help the great people of Ulster County.

And because there is no question that sweeping change must take place in
Washington, in addition to serving as County Executive I am excited and energized to
work diligently to ensure that one of the many gifted, honorable and worthy Democratic
candidates is successful in our efforts to take back NY 19 and help protect the future of
our amazing nation from the absurdity of the politics we are witnessing today.

Sincerely,

Mike Hein