CLEARFIELD – A man who has served as a Clearfield County Commissioner for more than 15 years will not seek re-election in 2007.
Clearfield County Commissioner Mike Lytle announced following Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting that he would not run for re-election.
“It has been an honor to serve the residents of our county for the 15-plus years, but I do not feel that I am making a difference anymore,” a statement Lytle read to the press stated.
In his time, Lytle said some of the largest accomplishments of the county have been cleaning up the former Harbison-Walker site and the construction of the professional office part.
Lytle also noted accomplishments the county has made with technology, saying that 15 years ago, few offices in the county had computers, and now everything is computer-based. He also noted the importance of services for veterans in the county, saying the veterans affairs director post was a part-time one years ago, and now it is a full-time position.
Lytle noted, though, that nothing he has done for the county has been a solo effort.
“Any time I feel that I’ve accomplished something, it hasn’t just been me,” he said, noting that former commissioners Gene Lunsford and Gerry Hatcher played a large role in many county projects.
“I am thankful to everyone who has supported me in the past and grateful to God for allowing me to be an American and able to participate in our form of government.”
Lytle said his announcement does not mean he will never run for the post again, but this change will allow him to expand the hours of his chiropractic practice.
He said he is confident someone else will step up to perform the role for the county.
“There’s other people out there,” he said. “I encourage people to be a part of the system.”
Lytle admitted that when he first ran for commissioner, he never thought he would be in the post for four years, but he said the time he served the county helped himself as well.
“Thanks to everyone for the experience, and I think it’s made me a better person for having gone through it.”