Green will not seek re-election to county board

 COEUR d'ALENE — Kootenai County Commissioner Dan Green has told The Press that he will not seek re-election to his District 3 seat this year.

"I'm a proponent of term limits," he said. "An elected office should not be a career at any level — federal, state or local."

Green said he wants to give others interested in running ample time to enter the race, so that's why he's announcing early that he won't seek re-election. 

This year will mark the end of Green's second term. Green will have served six years as a commissioner at the end of his term, which ends in January 2017.

Green, 59, was appointed to the county's Planning and Zoning Commission in 2003 and served in that capacity for seven years.

"It's time to take a break," said Green, adding that he's not ruling out running for a political office in the future.

Green said he wants to pursue teaching a continuing education class at North Idaho College on financial planning and he'll likely participate on other boards and nonprofits.

He retired in 2008 as the owner of a forest products company.

"I've failed at retirement," he said.

Republicans Bob Bingham and Leslie Duncan earlier announced they'll seek Green's seat. District 3 includes the north-central part of the county. The primary is May 17.

Republican incumbent David Steward also earlier announced he'll re-seek his District 2 seat this year.

Candidates can officially file for candidacy for commission board seats for the primary from Feb. 29through March 11.