PICKENS — Pickens County Registration and Elections Director Ashley Harris has announced that he is leaving that position after three years.

Harris informed the Pickens County Election Commission of his decision at its meeting Tuesday night. He told commission members that he would continue to serve through the June primary and runoff — making his resignation effective June 26.

“I am proud to have served with such a great group of people,” Harris said in his letter, obtained by the Daily Messenger. “For all of the support and great experiences you have given me and for making my stay in Pickens County unforgettable, I cannot thank you enough. However, it is time for me to move on to other endeavors and career pursuits.”

Though Harris said he plans to pursue a second master’s degree, his first was in sociology, in mental health counseling from Webster University in Greenville, his decision was triggered by action recently taken by Pickens County Council.

During its April 21 budget work session, chairman Neil Smith recommended that Harris’ salary be removed from the county budget. The action reportedly came in response to council’s requirement that all county employees live inside Pickens even though Harris, who resides in Traveler’s Rest, maintained that he was an employee of the election commission.

“My intent was to stay with Pickens County longer, but those events certainly sped things up,” Harris said.

After beginning employment in Pickens County in 2004 as a research analyst for administration, Harris was named to succeed Marilyn Bowers as registration and elections director the following year.

“This has been a great learning experience, and I have worked with a lot of great people in the county,” Harris said. “I believe Pickens County does more with less than any other county in South Carolina.”

Herb Thompson, the newly elected chairman of the election commission, said Harris would be greatly missed.

“He’s done an excellent job in Pickens County in holding these elections and has been very efficient in how he runs things,” Thompson said.

Thompson said the commission is now seeking resumes for a successor.

“We would like to have somebody on board prior to the June primary so that we can train and have somebody who knows what’s going on,” he said. “That’s what we’re working toward.”