Sheriff Jim Alderden will not join the long line of contenders for the Larimer County Commissioner seat to be vacated by Kathay Rennels.

“I’m not ready to leave the sheriff’s office,” Alderden said Tuesday when announcing his decision. “My heart’s with this agency.”

Alderden will wrap up 12 years as county sheriff in 2010. He is term limited. Alderden also said he would not run for the county commissioner job in November. “I just didn’t see myself in that role,” he said.

Larimer County Republican Party Chairman Larry Carillo said nine people so far have expressed various degrees of interest. The nearly 320-member Republican central committee will pick a winner when delegates gather at 7 p.m. on Jan. 7 at Ridgewood Classical School in Fort Collins.

Carillo said confirmed contenders are Mike Salaz, a former state representative; and real estate agents David Bee, Sean Dougherty and Eric Kronwall. Others expressing interest, according to Carillo, are political consultant Andrew Boucher, professional photographer and former county commissioner John Clarke, Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association Director Gail Meisner of Wellington, Clydesdale breeder Curtis Bridges of Wellington and Aims Community College Assistant Director of Facilities and Operations David Millsapps.

Any registered Republicans who has lived in Commissioner District 1 for at least a year is eligible to fill the vacancy. The district encompasses roughly the northern third of Larimer County. Applicants for the job, which pays $87,300 a year, can announce their intentions at the meeting on Jan. 7.

Carillo said with the sheriff’s decision not to run, he would not be surprised to see more applications come in.

The vacancy was created when Rennels resigned effective Dec. 31 to become director of economic development at Colorado State University.

Carillo said that with numerous contenders there is likely to be a process of elimination with rounds of voting until a winner emerges.

A quorum of at least half the central committee members plus one is required to validate the vote. Otherwise Gov. Bill Ritter will fill the vacancy.

With no time to call another meeting before the 10-day deadline to fill the vacancy, Carillo said he is confident that enough committee members will be present.