After already serving for a decade on the Cullman County Commission, current associate commissioner Kerry Watson has announced he won’t seek the office again when his current term expires in 2026.

Watson informed his commission colleagues as well as the public of his decision at this week’s regular meeting of the county commission, addressing the room near the start of the meeting during time set aside for public comment.

“I’ve been very blessed to serve Cullman County; I have enjoyed serving Cullman County,” Watson said. “But at this time, I’m announcing that I will not seek another term in the upcoming election. … I’ve really enjoyed the service; I’ve enjoyed the prayers, the friendships and enjoyed serving the people. But at this time, I just feel like it’s not where I need to be.”

Watson, a Republican, last won election to his District 1 seat in November of 2022, running uncontested to retain his associate commissioner’s spot. His present term in office came on the heels of the commission’s 2022 conversion from a three-member governing body to a five-member one, with Watson’s time on the commission spanning both eras.

Watson’s current District 1 seat encompasses Cullman County’s northeast quadrant, an area that falls north of U.S. Highway 278 and east of U.S. Highway 31. Though residency guidelines require that Kerry live within the district in oder to serve as the District 1 associate commissioner, he and each of the commission’s four associates represent the population of the county as a whole.

While Watson offered no specifics, he indicated that stepping away from his commissioner’s role might not mean the end of his participation in local public service. “… I look forward to being in involved in Cullman County some way or another down the line,” he said Tuesday, “but right now, I will not seek this office again.”