An Upshur County commissioner announced Tuesday that he won't seek re-election in 2010.

Pct. 2 Commissioner Joe "Buddy" Ferguson, 68, said he will retire at the end of his term because of personal and health reasons.

"I will continue to serve for the next year and two months as I always have," Ferguson said. "This should give the good people of Upshur County who seek this position the opportunity to make their decision."

Upshur County voters elected the Democrat to the seat in 2003. Precinct 2 is the area east of U.S. 271 and north of Texas 154. It is primarily occupies Ore City, North Diana, Pine Acres, Ewell and Lafayette.

"One of my largest contributions was repairing buildings and stopping the leaks," Ferguson said. "All the county buildings we owned leaked at the time I came into office."

County Judge Dean Fowler and other commissioners were not immediately available for comment.

"Even though Commissioner Ferguson and I have had our differences in the past, I think it's a tremendous loss for the county," County Clerk Peggy LaGrone said. "He's been our senior commissioner for a long time. I hate to see him go."