The Winchester Board of Commissioners will have at least one new face in 2019, after long-time commissioner Rick Beach announced Tuesday he will not seek an eighth term.

“It was a decision I had promised my wife last time,” Beach said at the end of Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting. “There may be something else down the road. I will be just as active and involved until the day I walk out the door.”

Beach said two things stick out as successes from his time in office.

“One is helping with the Depot Street project,” he said.

The brick street is now home to the Winchester-Clark County Farmers Market and other public events, after its restoration. “That was a big thing for me.

“I think the other is being here to help manage the city through the economic downturn. 2008, 2009, 2010 were difficult times and there was a lot of sacrifice,” he said.

This will be the first change to the make-up of the commission since Kitty Strode took office in 2011.

The former teacher and businessman surprised his fellow commissioners with the news.

“It’s hard to follow that,” Commissioner Shannon Cox said. “Rick, you’ve been a devoted public servant. You will be missed.”

“Fourteen years ia a long time,” Mayor Ed Burtner said. “Rick Beach has served this community in a number of ways. His leadership was instrumental in a number of ways.

“Thank you for your service.”

Beach and his wife, Marjorie, owned and operated Rees Office Supply in Winchester from 1986 through November 2017 when they sold it to Hurst Office Suppliers. Beach continued to work with the company following the sale.