Mower County Sheriff Terese Amazi announced on Monday that she will not be seeking re-election to a fifth term as sheriff.

“Four terms is ample for the sheriff,” she said. “It’s been a good career.”

Amazi will finish her term at the end of December.

Amazi was the first woman to be elected sheriff in Minnesota. She began her law enforcement career at the Lewis and Clark County Jail in Helena, Montana, before landing a job at the Mower County Jail. She was promoted to deputy and worked undercover in the narcotics division. She was the Mower County Chief Deputy before being elected sheriff.

“I went with what I thought would work and fortunately it did,” she said of her first election.

During her time in office, she successfully convinced the legislature to pass initiatives for drug enforcement, such as keeping methamphetamine ingredients like pseudoephedrine behind the counter at drug stores, and child protection. She also oversaw the design and construction of the new Mower County Jail and Justice Center.

“It was not something we did lightly,” she said of the justice center’s construction. “We toured a lot of facilities to see what worked best.”

She also implemented the prescription drug collection program, which to date has kept over two tons of prescription drugs off the streets.

Amazi indicated that Mower County Detective Steve Sandvik might be a possible candidate for her position. Chief Deputy Mark May, she said, is not interested in running.

Amazi did have a word of advice to her eventual successor.

“Take a step back and don’t let your emotions run,” she said.