Moore County Commissioner Tim Lea announced today that he will not seek re-election.

"As I strongly believe in term limits and will have served two four-year terms by the end of this year, I have decided not to seek a third term," Lea said in a letter to his supporters.

Lea said he has always tried to do what he felt was "in the best interest of our county from a perspective of preserving what is unique about its culture, heritage and rural nature."

"At the same time I have understood the importance of planning for current and future growth and have worked hard to ensure that as growth comes, it will be appropriate for our county’s infrastructure and resources," he said. "Additionally, I have consistently worked to be fiscally responsible, most notably with respect to county indebtedness. I have also worked to support those decisions that would assure wise use of your tax dollars while resisting tax increases."

Among the board's accomplishments during his two terms, Lea is most proud of:

• Bringing greater transparency to county government through the establishment of a public comment period and improvement of audio and visual systems.

• Improving communication with Moore County Schools, which helped to facilitate the building of new middle and elementary schools and the renovation of existing schools.

• Improving and expanding the water and sewer system by eliminating chronic water shortages for all of Moore County, upgrading ancient sewer lines in Pinehurst and extending water lines to new users.

• Establishing the new Senior Enrichment Center with the necessary and appropriate renovations.

• Reorganizing the contract negotiation process to make it more fair, open and competitive.

• Participating actively in the ongoing 3,000-acre Heart of North Carolina MegaPark project that borders the northwest part of the county.

"I would be remiss if I didn’t express my sincere gratitude to our county executive team and employees. Elected officials come and go, but it is members of the staff who actually implement the policy, procedures and decisions of the Board of Commissioners on a day-to-day basis," Lea said. "We are indeed most fortunate in Moore County to have such talented and dedicated people working for us, and they are the reason our county runs so smoothly."

Lea was elected to the board in 2004 and survived a close call against Tim Sloan in 2008. He is also a former chairman of the Moore County Planning Board.