Roger Powell announced yesterday he will not seek re-election as Covington County’s circuit clerk next year. He is serving his fourth term.

“This is a decision that I have considered for some time and to which I have given much thought and consideration,” Powell said. “Telling my staff last week was probably the most difficult part of that process.”

Po-well was first elected in 1988, after serving 13 years as the chief juvenile probation officer in Covington County.

As circuit clerk, he has overseen the business portion of the 22nd Judi-cial Circuit where the clerk is the custodian of records in civil, criminal, traffic, domestic relations, child support and juvenile courts. The clerk also is responsible for the collection and disbursement of court monies, the jury manager, the absentee election manager, and the passport acceptance agent, and is also responsible for a host of other court-related duties.

Powell said, “It is difficult to sum up the duties of the clerk in a simple paragraph. Someone recently observed that the clerk’s office was like the Atlanta airport – everything goes through there. I find that analogy very true.”

Powell said it has been an honor to serve as clerk, and expressed his thanks to members of his staff.

“It has been an honor for me to serve the citizens of Covington County and to have been re-elected three times without opposition,” he said. “To hold the public’s trust has been paramount. I am extremely proud of the court’s track record with successful audits by the Department of Public Examiners during my tenure. That is truly a testament to the dedication and expertise of the staff employed in the clerk’s office. They have made me look good.”

Powell is married to Cathy Powell, a teacher of talented and gifted students at Andalusia Elementary School. They are the parents of two daughters, Allyn, a senior at Huntingdon College, and Lauren, a sophomore at the University of Alabama.