It’s forgivable to be unaware of William Walcott.

The three-term representative from downtown Lewiston, who resigned Tuesday, was the antithesis of the flashy politician. No bombast, no grandstanding, no scandals. A lunch-pail representative, to coin a phrase.

Which makes it unsurprising that Walcott, whose career involves caring for developmentally disabled adults, has put his work first. He resigned his legislative seat, he says, because of job responsibilities. His peers say he now has an opportunity to finally get some sleep, and pay the bills.

Walcott deserves it. For his five years in the Legislature, his unwavering focus on helping the unfortunate in his community and across the state, and for his recent common-sense analyses of Maine’s welfare spending to try to dissipate political smokescreens about the real beneficiaries.

In doing so, Walcott again showed he was unafraid to speak the truth. Just like the first time.

This came in March 2005, when the nervous lawmaker stood before his colleagues and revealed, in the course of discussion on the House floor about anti-discrimination legislation, that he was gay. Previously, he kept his sexual orientation private, known only to family and close friends.

At that time, we praised his courage for being himself. At this time, as a U.S. senator from Idaho suspected of lewd activity dominates the headlines, Walcott’s admittance is even more remarkable. Maybe we’re used to politicians always resorting to obfuscation when it comes to matters of sexuality.

Walcott’s bravery illustrates how shortsighted this can be. After his revelation, he expressed concern some voters would hold his sexual orientation against him, but felt they would support him on the issues, over everything else.

He was right, and earned re-election to his third term in 2006, a superb accomplishment for a political novice nominated at the last minute in 2002, when his predecessor, former Rep. Bill Cote, abruptly resigned his seat after losing the Democratic primary amidst allegations of dirty trickery.

His peers respected him. Legislative leadership thought enough of the blue-collar representative to appoint him chair of a blue-ribbon commission on MaineCare in 2005. And his floor speech about anti-discrimination, in which he described his lifelong fears of prejudice, earned him stirring applause.

Fellow Lewiston Rep. Elaine Makas, one of Walcott’s earliest proponents, describes him as “the brightest man in Augusta,” a compliment about his intellect, not his luminescence.

Because Walcott didn’t shine, not, at least, in the way politicians are known to do. He shirked individual spotlights to focus on committee work, about important issues such as health care and social services. And when he did draw attention – as with his announcement in 2005 – it was for all the right reasons.

With his resignation, Lewiston’s lost a hard-working, honest and courageous lawmaker.

Those are the toughest to see go.