Kauai County’s Managing Director Gary Heu announced that he will retire in October.

Heu, 57, will retire on Oct. 31 to spend more time with family.

He was appointed as managing director by the late Mayor Bryan Baptiste. Heu served as acting mayor following Baptiste’s untimely death.

During a special election, former Council Chairman Kaipo Asing was voted managing director. Heu returned to the executive position after Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. reappointed Heu in December 2008.

Heu recalled how he planned to serve as managing director for a short period of time after he spent 22 years at Hawaiian Telcom Inc., formerly known as Verizon Hawaii Inc., before he retired as Kauai island manager in 2002. “When I first joined the county, my intention was to stay only four years,” said Heu in a county news release. “Looking back over the past 11 years, I can honestly say that it’s been an honor and a privilege to serve under three mayors and make a small contribution to our island community.”