Newton County Commissioner Tim Fleming, who represents the fifth district, announced during Tuesday's board of commissioners meeting that he would not be seeking reelection.

Fleming said he would like to devote more time to his family, especially because he and his wife are expecting their second child in August.

Since taking office in January 2009, Fleming said that he felt proud of what he had accomplished as he and his fellow board members successfully steered the county through a tough economic depression.

He also said that he was proud to stick with the platform he ran on for the last three years.

"I have served on the conservative platform I ran on," said Fleming.

Immediately after the meeting, Marcello Banes stopped by The Covington News to announce he would run for the District 5 seat as a Democrat. Banes, 35, is the owner of a commercial cleaning business, TPC Cleaning Services.