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As County Commission Melvin “Skip” Alston announced last week that he wouldn’t run for another term in his county seat, his name was being bandied about in Raleigh in terms of several positions. Depending on who you listened to, he might have been running for lieutenant governor, Congress or some state legislative seat.

As it turns out, there were good reasons for those rumors.

“I had considered several different options of running for different positions, even lieutenant governor,” Alston said.

Alston has been a sometimes controversial but always influential figure in Guilford County. He has been a lobbyist and headed the state chapter of the NAACP. He’s also usually on the invite list when big-name pols, like President Barack Obama, come to town.

Alston said that he ruled out a statewide run for lieutenant governor because he didn’t think he could raise the money necessary to mount an effective primary campaign.

Alston said he also looked at running in the 12th Congressional District, currently served by Rep. Mel Watt. At the time, Alston said, there were rumors Watt would bow out. Since then, Alston has talked to Watt and reports the veteran congressman plans to seek re-election.

If and when Watt does step away, Alston said, he will run for that seat.

“It is my desire to possibly run one day for Congress,” Alston said.

As of yet, Watt has not officially filed to run for another term.

Alston also looked at running for a pair of legislative seats. He decided not to run for state Senate because his friend, and fellow county commissioner, Bruce Davis is challenging incumbent Gladys Robinson. And he decided not to go for state House because his friend, and co-founder of the International Civil Rights Museum, Earl Jones plans to challenge Rep. Marcus Brandon.

That leaves Alston not planning to jump into any political campaigns himself this year. However, he said if someone else changed their plans, he might jump into a race.

“I’m keeping my options open until the end of the filing period,” he said.

That said, Alston plans to be involved in other folks’ political campaigns. He has already volunteered to help Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton in his campaign for governor, Alston said.