FLAGSTAFF, Arizona (AP) — Coconino County Attorney Bill Ring said he would not seek re-election next year but has not ruled out running for another office.

Ring told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he could pursue other opportunities that could be related to real estate development or legal affairs, or run for Congress.

Ring, a Democrat, has served 22 years in his second four-year term as Coconino County attorney. He ran unopposed for his best job in 2020. His term ends in December 2024.

Future office challenges will scale with the county’s needs, he said. Many of the lawsuits involve defendants and victims who do not live in Coconino County, he said.

“It’s too much to solve in 18 months, but you can start. That’s for sure,” he said.

The county attorney’s office is responsible for prosecuting crimes committed in more than 18,660 square miles (48,330 square kilometers) of north-central Arizona’s jurisdiction. Arizona is he one of the largest counties in the United States.

It incorporates Flagstaff, Sedona, the Grand Canyon, vast national forests and tribal reserves that are major tourist attractions.