Summit County Councilor Chris Robinson has announced that he will not run for reelection in 2026, ending a more than 15-year stretch as a local representative. Robinson disclosed his decision during last week’s County Council meeting, but he did not provide any further details on his reasoning . He was one of the original five County Council members elected in 2008 after the government changed from a three-person commission to a five-member council. He is also the CEO and co-owner of The Ensign Group, L.C., which owns and operates more than 230,000 acres of real estate across four states through its affiliates. Robinson, a Democrat, never lost a reelection bid while in office, and last campaigned for County Council Seat D in 2022. At the time, he emphasized his lengthy experience in local government, saying it would be an asset in dealing with the community’s challenges with visitation, traffic and pressure for more development, as well as expected growth in North Summit and South Summit. He also mentioned concerns regarding climate change and its impact on the snowpack, noting the importance of ski-related tourism to the community and the agricultural history of Summit County. Robinson, in a previous interview with The Park Record, listed the county’s open space purchases as some of his greatest accomplishments while in office. He additionally mentioned the County Council’s role in the COVID-19 pandemic response, setting and working toward net-zero sustainability goals and the creation of the High Valley Transit District. Robinson currently represents District 4, which encompasses Kimball Junction and parts of Pinebrook and Sun Peak. So far, no one has announced an intent to run for the seat, but candidates interested in filling the position will need to live within the district’s boundaries under the new districted County Council law imposed by the state earlier this year. Summit County Clerk Eve Furse also announced she would not be running for reelection last week. Furse was nominated for the position in 2021 after former Clerk Kent Jones retired in the middle of his term. She won a four-year term in 2022 and helped the County Council navigate the districting process over the summer. Both Robinson and Furse will fulfill the rest of their terms, and voters will decide their successors during November’s general election. The candidate filing window for local elections opens at 8 a.m. on Jan. 2 and closes at 5 p.m. on Jan. 8. The county auditor, sheriff, attorney, clerk and two County Council positions, including Robinson’s and the one held by County Council Vice Chair Canice Harte, will be on the 2026 ballot. The post Summit County Councilor Chris Robinson will not run for reelection appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less