Kermit Spaulding, the Legislature's Sergeant of Arms since 1997, has decided not to seek legislative re-election to his post and has endorsed Rep. Francis Brooks, D-Montpelier, for the job instead.

"As Rep. Francis Brooks has voiced a desire to serve as Sergeant of Arms and I feel he will do an excellent job I hereby withdraw my name from consideration," Spaulding wrote in a note to Secretary of State Deb Markowitz earlier this month.

Spaulding, a well-liked, two-term former representative from Stowe, is known for showing up for work at the Statehouse at the crack of dawn, even when the Legislature isn't in session.

Twice in the last three years, he has run afoul of the state Fish & Wildlife Department, pleading guilty three years ago to shooting a deer decoy and no contest to a charge of feeding a deer in 2005.

He says his troubles with F&W aren't the reason for stepping down. Instead, at age 69, he says it's just time for someone else to take the reins.

-- Sam Hemingway