UPDATE: State Rep. Gottwalt Resigns After Taking Lobbying Job

Gottwalt told House members in a letter Thursday that he is resigning his seat before the end of January.

Earlier Gottwalt, a Republican who was just elected to his fourth term, said would stay in the Legislature.

In his letter, Gottwalt said his new job as state legislative director for the Center for Diagnostic Imaging is "more than a full-time job" and would not give him the time he needs to represent his constituents.

Both parties now have departing House members. Democratic state Rep. Terry Morrow announced last month he's resigning his St. Peter-area seat for a new job.

Here's Gottwalt's full e-mail:

At the beginning of December, I announced the great news that I had joined Center for Diagnostic Imaging as Director of State Legislative Policy, in a national role assisting this healthcare company in continuing its leadership in providing high quality, cost-effective diagnostic imaging services. My role at the CDI Quality Institute is to understand and translate the complex state healthcare regulatory environment in more than 25 states in which the company sees patients, and I am proud to be working with a health care company actively seeking solutions at a critical time for healthcare across the country.As I've settled in at CDI, I see the states are once again the laboratory of democracy, and each is finding its own approach to implementing the new federal healthcare law. It's a huge set of changes, and it makes this position one to which I must fully commit as much time and focus as possible. It quite simply is more than a full time job, and one that will not allow me the time I need to represent the people of District 14A as their State Representative.

That is why I have made the difficult decision to resign my seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives before the end of the month. I thank you, my colleagues, for our years of service together, and my constituents for their confidence in electing me to represent them. I will always appreciate the deep honor and privilege of serving the residents of St. Cloud, Waite Park, St. Augusta and Rockville.

Sincerely in service,

State Rep. Steve Gottwalt