Late last week, Secretary of State Trey Grayson bid farewell to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Here’s his goodbye letter:

Dear fellow Kentuckians:

It has been an honor to serve the Commonwealth as Secretary of State since January of 2004. I cannot thank you enough for this opportunity.

Recently, Harvard University asked me to become the next Director of its Institute of Politics, and I have accepted the offer. My tenure as your Secretary of State will end tomorrow, at Noon.

I am proud to leave the office in a sound fiscal shape that is a more efficient and better resource for Kentuckians than ever before. We have worked with Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly to pass several legislative packages that have empowered Kentucky’s business and election laws. I am grateful for the outstanding work of our employees who have transformed the office into a 24-hour service center that is a model not only for Kentucky but for the nation.

Read the rest after the jump…

We have been working diligently with Secretary-Designee Elaine Walker over the past few weeks to ensure an orderly transition, so that she may build upon the successful foundation that my team leaves behind.

It has been a pleasure to work with so many great Kentuckians and to make a profound difference in the future of our Commonwealth. I believe that we have shown you can work across party lines to bring civility and results back to government and deliver strong success for the people of Kentucky. Kentuckians deserve that from their elected leaders and government officials. I hope that my example will inspire others to take similar approaches so that we can tear down artificial walls that separate us as Kentuckians.

In the true spirit that makes Kentucky so great and that has long been a part of this office, please join me in welcoming our new Secretary of State Elaine Walker. In our elected officials including Secretary Walker and those to come, we place our hope and faith for a better Kentucky.

May God bless you and may God bless Kentucky,

Trey Grayson