Davis, a longtime friend of the governor, said he wants to spend more time with his wife. His wife is expecting the couple's third child at the beginning of the year, which conflicts with the start of the next legislative session.

Staffers Carl Blackstone and Scott English will take over for Davis, serving as senior legislative adviser and senior policy adviser, respectively.

"Too many people in the political process forget that your family has got to come first," Sanford said. "To Tom's credit, he's putting his family first, and he's got my complete respect and support as he does that."

Reached by phone Thursday, Davis would not say whether he will return to Sanford's staff in any official, full-time capacity.

"It's just too early to make that call," he said. "I will be involved one way or another, at least helping with policies and strategy."

Davis started working with Sanford during his first congressional campaign in 1994. He remained with Sanford through the years, eventually taking over as co-manager of his gubernatorial campaign.

In August, he replaced Chip Campsen as the governor's senior policy adviser. In November, he and Henry White, the governor's chief council, replaced Fred Carter as co-chiefs of staff.

It will be tough to replace Davis, who wore three hats for the governor. In addition to policy adviser and co-chief of staff, he served as legislative liaison.

Davis said working with the Legislature was the job he enjoyed most. It was also the job that gave him the most gray hair.A quiet man, Davis often bore the brunt of Sanford's dogged refusal to play nice with the General Assembly.

While the governor's moves generally have been popular with the public, they often have infuriated legislators.

Davis' calm demeanor, more often than not, managed to smooth ruffled feathers.

"House members all hold him in the highest regard, even through the ups and downs we've had," said House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville. "That speaks volumes about him. I think he's a great asset to the governor's office and to the state. He will be missed if he doesn't come back."

For the past two years, Sanford has struggled to get any major legislation through the General Assembly, despite working with a Republican-dominated House of Representatives and Senate.

Sanford's major items, including income tax reduction, government restructuring, a push to increase the number of charter schools and tax credits for private schools, died slow deaths this year.

Davis took the lead on a number of these plans. The one he fought hardest for was income tax reform, a proposal to lower the state's highest income tax bracket from the current 7 percent to 4.75 percent over a 10-year period.

For 10 months, he bird-dogged the bill through the Legislature, pushing, pulling and massaging lawmakers in an attempt to get them on board. When the measure died, Davis took it hard.

"It really broke my heart," Davis said. "A lot of people came up to me and said, 'You laid the foundation for next year.' I just felt like it was unfinished business."

Some wondered whether the strain of the session was too much for Davis.

"I did need a break," he said. "But that isn't the reason for me taking this time to be with my family. My wife's been holding down the fort for a long time. It's time for me to pause, take a breather and re-engage on the home front."

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