Ramsey County Commissioner Rafael Ortega, the longest serving member of the county board, informed supporters on Friday that he would not run for re-election next November, ending his 31-year career in county politics.

His decision comes about three weeks after Rebecca Noecker, the president of the St. Paul City Council, informed key contacts that she planned to run for his District 5 seat on the county board, and three days after she made her campaign announcement official.

Noecker on Friday said she was grateful for Ortega’s years of service. “Thirty years is remarkable,” she said.

Ortega, who is currently the board chair, became the first person of color elected to the county board in 1994. He has frequently served as either board chair or chair of the county’s regional rail authorit

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