sentences:  Woods was elected as the Member for Clarence in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the Labor Party in May 1996 in the by-election that was triggered by Causley's resignation.He was only the second Labor member to win Clarence since its creation in 1859.He was Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Rural Affairs from 1997 to 1999 and Minister for Local Government, Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Rural Affairs from 1999 to his retirement in the 2003 election.