When filing opens later this month for elected offices in Mower County, one position will likely be a wide open race.

Recorder Sue Davis announced to the Mower County Board of Commissioners Tuesday that she plans to retire in December and will not seek re-election in November.

“It’s been a very rewarding 40 years with the county,” she said. “It’s been very rewarding. I think it’s time for new blood.”

Davis served about 15 years in the veteran’s office, and she’s served the last 25 years in the recorder’s office.

“It’s been a tough decision to make,” Davis said. “I’m still young enough I feel like I can work, but I feel like I have to get out and enjoy something else.”

In anticipation of her retirement, the county board has taken steps to make the recorder position an appointed role in the county. Rather than the post being elected, it would be appointed much like the county engineer.

A bill to allow the county board to make the position appointed passed in the Minnesota House of Representatives, but the county has not yet heard that the bill passed in the Minnesota Senate.

It appears the county will no longer have sufficient time to make the change before candidates file affidavits of candidacy in mid-May.

If the bill is approved, Mower County Coordinator Craig Oscarson said the county board would still have about five weeks of steps to complete before they could vote on changing the recorder’s classification.

The board must publish its intent to change the status of the recorder position, then there’s a period for the public to file a petition, and then the board must hold a public hearing.

If the board is unable to enact the change now, they could make the change now, but it wouldn’t take effect for four years.