Saying he needs to devote more time to his family, Harford County Board of Education President Thomas L. Fidler Jr. has announced that he will not seek re-appointment to the board.
"To be an efficient board member, you need to spend 35 to 40 hours a week and I've done it," he said in a telephone interview. "It has taken its toll mentally and physically on myself and my family. My two boys, who are 8 and 11, are coming into the years when they need me the most."
Fidler, 38, made the announcement at Monday's school board meeting.
The five-year term for Fidler and Salina M. Williams, the vice president of the board, expires in July.
Williams has written a letter to Gov. Martin O'Malley seeking reappointment.
While Fidler said he is not ruling out another term on the Board of Education in the future, he said he would not seek it if the county switches to an elected school board.
"I just don't believe an elected board is the solution for the county and the school system," he said.
Fidler added that he is not seeking any other political office at this time.
He pledged to remain involved in Harford County education by volunteering or joining PTAs.
Former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, Jr. appointed Fidler, a Republican, to the school board in 2003. Fidler said his party affiliation would not have hindered his chances for a second term, which requires an appointment by O'Malley, who is a Democrat.
"The responses I received from a variety of folks, both Democrats and Republicans, were that I'd have no problem seeking reappointment," he said.
After July 1, when Fidler relinquishes his duties, he says he plans to attend Boy Scout activities with his two sons and refocus his career as the senior vice president and principal of Mackenzie Commercial Real Estate Services.
Some critics said his business ties created conflicts of interest with his role on the Board of Education.
Fidler frequently attended council meetings, such as those in Aberdeen, to update public officials on the latest issues at the Board of Education.
"I have no regrets," Fidler said. "I absolutely enjoyed it, even during the worst of times. After five years, it takes its toll on you."
His impending departure leaves a vacancy for a school board member from the Bel Air area.
Harford County Democratic Central Committee chairman Michael Comeau said he has been in touch with the governor's appointment office about Harford's school board.
Decades ago, the Permanent Nominating Caucus interviewed nominees and submitted the names of the candidates to the governor for review. But after governors stopped considering the caucus' recommendations, "the process died," said Don Morrison, spokesman for Harford County Public Schools.
"It's a governor's appointment now," Morrison said. "Elected officials might have suggestion power, county executives get involved, as do others. It's a political appointment, so there is no process."
In Annapolis, the Harford delegation is pushing for a bill that would bring a blend of elected and appointed members to the school board.
madison.park@baltsun.com