U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash, will not run for re-election in the fall.

Dicks, an 18-term representative of Washington’s 6th Congressional district, announced his retirement March 2.

“The privilege of serving in the House of Representatives, with the endorsement of the voters every two years, is indeed an honor unlike no other profession in our country and I have truly enjoyed every day here and have cherished all of the friendships we have made with many of the finest public servants in the nation,” he said in a statement.

“I am proud that many of these friendships have crossed the ideological and party lines that tend to separate us and I have always believed that we can achieve greater results if we leave politics aside when the election season and the floor debates are over.”

Dicks said he is proud of the work accomplished during his 30-plus years in Congress.

Among his pet projects were restoration and improvements in downtown Tacoma and Bremerton, the Elwha River restoration and dam removals and supporting Boeing programs.

State Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, said Dicks’ retirement leaves big shoes to fill.

“He has been a hardworking and tireless advocate for family wage jobs, a healthy environment and critical infrastructure projects that keep our economy moving,” Van De Wege said.

“Our communities have been well-served by his leadership, his constituents have appreciated his ongoing accessibility and I have personally been very proud to have him as my representative in our nation’s capital.”

Van De Wege said he does not intend to run for Dicks’ position.

Dicks, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said he will work hard over the next several months to conduct the committee’s hearings and complete work on all of the fiscal year 2013 appropriations bills.