Otero County Sheriff John Blansett told the Otero County Commission this week that he may not be retiring in December as he had previously announced, the Alamogordo Daily News reported.

Blansett, who was re-elected to a fourth term as sheriff in 2006, said last February that he was planning to retire in December because he was suffering from deteriorating eyesight, the Daily News reported at the time.

Although he said during the 2006 campaign that this term would be his last as sheriff, Blansett told commissioners that he had no intention of leaving office early as he ran for re-election, the paper said.

"Now for reasons that you all are aware of, I am contemplating -- only contemplating -- retirement in late December," Blansett said in a statement read at Wednesday's commission meeting. "In the event that I choose to retire, I would ask that your choice (for a replacement) be made as soon as possible for the purpose of continuity, and for my staff not having to fear the unknown."

Blansett told commissioners that he hoped they would support Undersheriff Norbert Sanchez as his replacement should he not finish his term, the Daily News said.

County Commission Chairman Doug Moore thanked Blansett after he read his statement Wednesday night, but the commission moved on to other business without acting on Blansett's request to name Sanchez, the paper reported.