State Senate Majority Leader Ronnie Chance (R-Tyrone) first took office in 2005. Representing District 16, Chance announced on the Senate floor Wednesday that he would not seek another term in office.

“I’ve been thinking about this a long time,” Chance said Wednesday afternoon of his decision not to qualify for his Senate seat in early March. That assessment preceded his comments on his three daughters, ages 10, 6 and 1. “I’m not going to miss them growing up. Ten years is long enough.”

Chance explained that his decision was based on his family, his company and an acknowledgment he made when he entered office a decade ago.

“I said when I first ran 10 years ago that I would know when the time has come. And it came,” said Chance. “I said I would term-limit myself.”

Asked about his future plans, Chance said there are “no (political) appointments out there and no hidden agenda.”

Chance said his intention is to have more time with his family and to, “Get back to my public relations firm.”

Aside from his duties as a Senator, Chance also serves as Senate Majority Leader.

“Being Senate Majority Leader takes an unbelievably large amount of time, as does being a Senator,” Chance said.

Chance during his time in the Senate also served as floor leader for Gov. Nathan Deal and Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Unlike some Senate districts in the 28-county metro Atlanta area, District 16 includes a mix of suburban and more rural areas. The district covers central and south Fayette County as well as all of Spalding County, Pike County and Lamar County.

While perhaps unfamiliar to many who have lived only in metro Atlanta, there are millions of others across the state who see a vast difference between “Atlanta” and “the other Georgia.”