Britt Cobb will step down at the end of his term.
The secretary of the N.C. Department of Administration told Dome that he has not sought to continue in that position after the end of Gov. Mike Easley's term.
"I've had my paperwork in for a long time," he said.
A longtime employee of the N.C. Department of Agriculture, Cobb was appointed commissioner of that department by Easley after former head Meg Scott Phipps left office in the wake of a scandal.
Cobb unsuccessfully ran for Agriculture commissioner in 2004 and was then appointed secretary of administration by Easley in 2006. Having retired from politics once already, he said he'll "never say never" to coming back.
"It's kind of like Sen. (Tony) Rand said one time, once it's in your blood, the only thing that will get it out is embalming fluid," he said.
State Rep. Alma Adams of Greensboro is considered to be a potential secretary of Administration under Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue.
