And saying goodbye wasn't easy. McCartney veered from choking up to promising, "I will be back."

McCartney, who had just won a third term in the Utah House, is required to leave the Legislature to avoid a conflict with his new job managing Salt Lake City's Citizen Review Board.

"Being on this House floor is magical," he said. "Among the 75 of us, we can debate the most emotional issues. On both sides of the aisle, we can feel the emotions so strong we can think unpleasant thoughts about the person opposing us. But then we can walk off this floor and still maintain that friendship. That's magical."

McCartney's colleagues credited his passion and straightforward advocacy for his district.

Holladay Democrat Pat Jones called him "courageous and energetic."

"His constituency and my constituency are quite different. That puts us on opposite sides," said St. George Republican Rep. Steve Urquhart. "But I've never seen him sit around and [figure out] what a decision is going to cost at election."

McCartney's last day on Capitol Hill is Friday.