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Rep. Dale Folwell, a Winston-Salem Republican, says he will not run for re-election to House District 74 next year. He was first elected to the state House in 2005.

Folwell is currently the Speaker Pro Tempore of the House, a position that is theoretically the No. 2 post in the chamber but comes with little real power. As he spoke to reporters today, Folwell ticked off a list of legislative accomplishments but said he needed more time to focus on problems he had not been able to tackle.

"All of this came to a head a week ago when another representative came into my office and said, 'At some point you're going to have to back off doing your job and start leading,'" Folwell said. Tackling a full slate of issues, he said, left him little time to focus on the future and on big things that he'd like to get done. "There's unfinished business that I need more mental space to focus on."

Update: After legislative districts were redrawn this year, Folwell was doubled-bunked — legislative speak for occupying the same seat — with Rep. Larry Brown. Folwell said the double-bunking had nothing to do with his decision to step away.

Minutes after Folwell finished his news conference, Brown walked into the legislative press room and handed out a statement saying he would run for the seat. Click here for a copy of Brown's announcement (.pdf). 

Update: Click here to read Folwell's written statement (.pdf).

Update: In his remarks, Folwell took pride in helping to pass school bus regulations, an organ donation law, worker compensation laws, changes to the state kindergarten age and other high-profile laws.

And he admitted to being frustrated that he had not been able to complete work on the state's "invisible problems," such as pension and health care liabilities.

"But nobody gets everything they want," Folwell said.

Folwell had clashed with other members of the House leadership team this year. Although those differences were aired largely behind closed doors, those tensions between Folwell and some key committee chairs were palpable this year. Folwell downplayed those conflicts Thursday and instead focused on thanking those he had worked with over the years.

He said that most of his ideas for legislation came from other people in his community.

"I was just the mule," he said. "Someone else was the brains."

He added, "If we're going to fix the problems of this state, we've got to listen."

Folwell is viewed as a potential candidate for other statewide offices. He ran for treasurer in 2010 before changing his mind and switching back to the state House. He has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for lieutenant governor and state auditor, both independently elected offices.

"I don't know at this point what the future is going to hold," he said. However, he did rule out returning to the General Assembly as a paid lobbyist.

Update: Not mentioned in either Folwell's written or spoken remarks was the role he played in helping to put a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on the 2012 primary ballot or a bill requiring public school students to show where they were born — a controversial swipe at the immigration problem.