Germantown Alderman Dean Massey has decided he will not seek election in November, filing the papers to withdraw from the Position 5 race on Tuesday.

“The people of Germantown are what make our community great, and my family is grateful that they trusted me to serve them as their alderman the last four years,” Massey said after withdrawing.

Massey, who currently holds Position 3, announced earlier this year he would not seek reelection to that office, but he did not rule out seeking another seat. He pulled a petition for Position 5 on Tuesday, Aug. 18. He sought signatures in less than 24 hours and qualified just before the noon deadline.

Rocky Janda, the incumbent in Position 5, is not seeking reelection.

Massey’s aldermanic career lasted one term where he was known to strongly oppose development. When Massey ran in 2016, he said he did not want to serve more than two terms. 

He previously served on the Public Safety Education Commission but currently serves as the alderman liaison to the Great Hall & Conference Center Advisory Commission, the Historic Commission and the Tree Board.

“I privately committed to leaving office as soon as I felt a new candidate would defend the rule of law and respect the will of the people as I have tried during my first term as alderman,” he said. “I think people are best served when new eyes and new ideas enter politics.”

The announcement from Massey sets up three new faces on the board. Sherrie Hicks and Terri Johnson are seeking Massey’s old Position 3. John Paul Miles, Rod Motley and Brian Ueleke are seeking Position 4, where Forrest Owens is not seeking reelection and Jon McCreery and and Brandon Musso will vie for Position 5.