Essex County Commissioner Rufus Johnson (above, left) will not run for reelection this year, according to sources in Essex County.

A long-time ally of state Senator Ronald L. Rice (D-28), Johnson had looked into retirement three years ago but opted to run again.

This time, however, he does not intend to run for reelection.

Johnson’s professional experience includes work as an aide to Newark Councilman Joe McCallum, the chief of staff to former state Sen. Rice, and an aide to Rice when he was serving on the Newark Municipal Council. He has also served as the president of the Newark West Ward Young Democrats, a member of the board of Habitat for Humanity, and the cofounder and coach of the Newark Optimist Club Little League and the Newark Pop Warner Football League.