sentences:  His first election to state office was in 1986, where he was elected to the General Court to represent Manchester's 8th ward.As a state legislator, he served 18 years, many as the Party Whip.He successfully sponsored over 150 bills into law, including a 1999 repeal of the state's ban on adoption by homosexual couples, a repeal of state taxes on hospitals, and anti-bullying legislation.