NATCHEZ — The president and longest-serving current member of the Adams County Board of Supervisors announced Wednesday he will not be seeking re-election in 2015.

Darryl Grennell said his decision was prompted by the upcoming qualifying period for re-election, which starts Jan. 1 and ends Feb. 27.

“I think the people of district 4 need to know ahead of time that I am not going to run so that those in my district that want to be the next supervisor of district 4 will have ample opportunity to get geared up, so they can start running and qualifying,” he said.

Grennell said the decision not to run was not prompted by any one thing, but by a desire to pursue new things.

“I am still in my 40s, and I want to try something else in life in terms of doing something different,” he said. “I have been dealing with this for the past couple of years in my mind, and now the time has come where I just need to let the public know.”

Elected in 1997 and taking office in 1998, Grennell served 12 of those years — some non-consecutively — as board president, a position he currently holds. The members of the board select the president from among their ranks.

Grennell was 31 when he was elected from among a field of nine candidates, including one of his current colleagues, District 5 Supervisor Calvin Butler. His re-election was opposed only once.

“I have always had an interest in the community, ever since I was in high school, where I was the student council president and the senior class president,” Grennell said. “I have always been interested in trying to make progress and improving the conditions of my community.”

Grennell said he plans to stay in the community — where his parents and siblings live — after his term ends Dec. 31, 2015. He said he still wants to work for the good of the community, but in a different capacity.

“I want to thank the people of my district,” Grennell said. “They have always supported me, and I love my district, I love the county and my plan is not to go anywhere.”