As reported by many news outlets, Senate Minority Leader E.J. Pipkin announced his intention to resign from the Maryland Senate this week effective August 12, 2013.

As reported by the Washington Post:

Maryland Senate Minority Leader E.J. Pipkin (R-Cecil) plans to resign from the chamber next week to pursue a new career in sports management, he said Monday.

Pipkin, a member of the Senate for more than a decade who assumed leadership of the Republican caucus in 2011, plans to move to Dallas to enroll in a masters program at Southern Methodist University, he said.

From the Baltimore Sun:

Pipkin, 56, served as Republican’s chief debater in the Maryland Senate, leading opposition in recent years to the state’s new gun-control law, legalization of same-sex marriage, repeal of the death penalty and off-shore wind program.

The former investment banker was first elected to the legislature in 2002, knocking of a Democrat and incumbent chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, Pipkin’s chief of staff John Fiastro said.

In an interview in the Star Democrat, Senator Pipkin talks about his departure.

“It’s just time, and when you’re in political life, there’s kind of an internal clock that says it’s time to move on,” Pipkin said in an interview Monday night. “I’ve been honored and privileged to serve the 36th District for the last 11 years. It has been an amazing process. The people are fantastic and what a great opportunity in life to represent such a great group of people.”

He said he took a hard look at what he wants to do with the next chapter in his life and decided it was best to step down now rather than at the end of his term.

“This is a decision we made last night (Sunday) as a family in Ocean City together and finalized it. We were in Texas last week and, you know, things kind of came together,” Pipkin said.