READING, Pa. — Outside the Berks County Services Center, Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera stood with family by his side. Then came the announcement.
“After much prayer, deep reflection, and many conversations with my family, I have decided that I will not be seeking re-election next year,” Rivera said.
Commissioner Rivera was first elected in 2019 and took office in 2020. He said serving Berks County has been one of the greatest honors of his life. But now, he wants to focus on family and business.
“This decision ultimately comes down to a desire to focus fully on my family’s real estate business, which is an important part of our lives,” Rivera said.
He said stepping away from elected office does not mean stepping away from the community. He said he still has work to do.
“I will continue to serve out the remainder of my term with the same dedication, energy, and sense of responsibility that I have brought to this position since day one,” Rivera said.
Commissioner Christian Leinbach praised Rivera’s leadership and said the early announcement gives others time to consider running.
“Often what happens, the politicians wait until the very last minute so that no one else has an opportunity or time to think about, hey, I might be interested in running for that position. We felt transparency is the right way,” Leinbach said.