After seven years in office, Rep. Mike Shaw, D-Standish, announced his resignation from the Maine Legislature this week.

Shaw, 43, who has served as House chairman of the Inland Fisheries & Wildlife committee for the past three years, said Tuesday he planned to submit a formal resignation letter by the end of the week. Shaw said he is resigning because he is in the process of moving to Freeport for “family and professional reasons,” also noting that state laws would have barred him from running again after his fourth term expired.

“I’m termed out,” Shaw said. “I wasn’t able to run next time anyway. It’s been an honor to serve in the Legislature representing the people of Standish.”

According to Kristen Muszynski, communications director for the Maine Secretary of State’s office, once the vacancy for the District 23 House seat is declared, Gov. Paul LePage will issue a proclamation calling for a special election to fill the seat. After the governor’s announcement, candidates will have 15 days to announce their entry into the race. Muszynski said the special election to replace Shaw would likely be held this November.

A longtime conductor on the Amtrak Downeaster train, Shaw said he was proud of his work in the Legislature since he first beat Republican Gary Moore in the race for House District 102 in 2008. In particular, Shaw said, his working-class background brought an important perspective to the Legislature.

“We need to have more regular working stiffs representing us up in Augusta, and I think I’m a pretty good representative in that regard,” Shaw said. “Over the seven years that I’ve been in the Legislature, I’ve worked afternoon shifts, weekends, nights, holidays, stuff like that. I brought the working person’s perspective to Augusta and I think we need more of that.”

Shaw said he was proud of his advocacy for 2010 legislation that expanded Pine Tree Development Zones statewide, giving tax breaks to businesses that hire more workers, pay higher wages, and provide health benefits. Shaw also sponsored an unsuccessful constitutional amendment to allow for early voting ahead of Election Day.

Shaw also said he was proud of his work changing the criteria of the Land for Maine’s Future program to ensure protections for deer and wild brook trout habitats. He also sponsored a bill that increased penalties for illegal dumping on private property.

“If you get caught dumping on somebody else’s land you have to do 100 hours of community service working to clean up dumping sites,” Shaw said. “That was put in there as a ‘shall,’ not a ‘may.’”

Phil Pomerleau, the owner of the Maine-ly Heating Oil Co. and a former Standish town councilor, said that he had wanted to run for Shaw’s seat, but chose not to because he supported him. Pomerleau plans to run for the seat during the special election.

“He’s done a very good job,” Pomerleau said. “Mike’s honest and he tells it the way it is. He doesn’t hide anything. When you talk to him you know you’re getting the real deal. He’s not a typical politician. I was a Republican, now I’m an independent in the last year, and I’ve put Mike signs up on my lawn. When I was Republican I supported Mike 100 percent. He’s really done a good job.”

Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, whom Shaw described as a “mentor,” said that it would be difficult to replace Shaw.

Ann Peoples, a former Westbrook Democratic legislator from 2006 to 2014 and fellow rail advocate, praised Shaw’s work ethic.

“He’s been an extremely hard worker and very thoughtful, a very good advocate for his constituents,” she said. “He really did a good job. He’s an honest guy with a lot of integrity. I’m sorry to hear that he’s leaving.”