A Carterville Democrat says he won't run for a state office, but instead would like another shot as County Commissioner.
Brent Gentry says he was approached to run for State Representative against John Bradley. But Gentry says it just didn't fit with his mission.
I feel like, right now, in my life, I can do more touching lives right here than I can getting up there in all that mess. ~Brent Gentry
"You've got to figure out how you'd touch the most lives. I feel like, right now, in my life, I can do more touching lives right here than I can getting up there in all that mess. Even thinking of running in a terrible campaign and fighting back and forth, it's not worth it."
Gentry is in his second six-year term on the Williamson County Board. He's the longest-serving of the three current members and the only Democrat.
He points to his battles against nepotism in the county's Housing Authority, creation of a free dump day program, balanced budgets, and a new county jail as his biggest accomplishments.
No other candidates have yet announced their intention to run against Gentry in 2016.