ORANGE COUNTY – Long-time Orange County Commissioner Alice Gordon announced Thursday that she does not intend to seek another term in office.

“I thought it was time,” she says. “I had really accomplished most of what I set out to do…so I made my announcement in time to give other people a chance to consider running.”

Listen to Aaron Keck’s interview with Alice Gordon on the WCHL Thursday Afternoon News.

Listen to Aaron Keck’s interview with Alice Gordon on the WCHL Thursday Afternoon News.

Gordon has served on the Board of County Commissioners since 1990; she’s stepping down after six terms and 24 years in office.

She says of all her accomplishments, she’s proudest of her work on education and the environment.

“I think the Lands Legacy program–which has protected over 3,000 acres of the county’s most important natural and cultural resources–is probably my most important accomplishment,” she says. “Because it’ll be enduring, and because people can enjoy those lands.”

In addition to her work on the Board, Gordon also served as chair of the Triangle Transit Board of Trustees, as well as chair of the policy board of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the regional transportation planning organization for the western part of the Triangle area.

The filing period begins in February for candidates interested in filling Gordon’s seat on the Board; the Democratic and Republican primaries will take place in May.

Gordon offers this advice for her future successor, whoever that should be: “Be passionate about what you believe, have core values and try to follow those values when you get on the Board…you really have to focus to accomplish anything, because it takes a long time.”

In an official statement released Thursday, Gordon said: “I have had the honor and privilege of being a county commissioner for more than twenty years, and I wish to thank the residents of Orange County for their confidence and trust in electing me six times. I believe that we have made great progress in addressing the goals I set out to accomplish when I first ran for office.”

But of course Gordon still has one year left to serve on her final term—so although she won’t be on the Board in 2015, she says she’s not going anywhere right away.

“We have a lot of challenges,” she says. “So I’m not done yet.”

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