“As you know, when you were returned to office, we discussed my continued service to the administration and I indicated a willingness to commit for the first two years of your second term...," Hayward wrote in a Sept. 7 letter to Carcieri.

“Given the realities of budget development in this very serious fiscal environment, your administration will require consistent leadership over the development and implementation of the fiscal year 2009 and subsequent budgets and initiatives across the health and human services departments,” Hayward's letter said. “In acknowledgement of the importance of that reality, and to support and advance the continuing evolution of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services with sustainable leadership, pleased be advised that I will retire effective October 5, 2007.”