Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat said during his State of the City address Thursday he will not seek re-election to a third term.
Choat, who has served two terms as mayor and was a Trussville City councilor for nine years, said he never intended to serve more than two as the city’s highest-ranking elected official.
The decision was finalized after Choat returned from a vacation in Nova Scotia late last year, he said.
“[W]hen we got back I had a clear vision on what next year, this coming year, meant. One of the things that did become clear to me was it’s time for a change,” the mayor told the crowd at the Trussville Civic Center.
Choat had to take a moment to compose himself.
“I am not going to seek reelection next year. It was never my plan to stay here more than two terms, although I love what I do, I love the people I work with … great citizens, but it’s time,” he said.
“There’s leaders, there’s always leaders in a community, we’ve got leaders in this community that will step up and take over and just keep carrying the torch, and that’s what I hope they’ll do,” he said.
Choat said the decision, which had been private until Thursday, has “kind of been a burden on me” as people constantly asked him whether he would seek a third four-year term.
“Quite honestly, four more years – I just don’t feel like I’m ready to take that challenge,” he said.
The mayor noted he still has more than a full year left in his second term.
“We’ve got a lot of challenges before us, we’ve got a lot of great things in the works. I’m looking forward to that, but … Our work is not done, but I thank you,” Choat said.
The remark was interrupted by a standing ovation inside the civic center.
“But I thank you for the opportunity to do what I’ve done for what will be nine years – a total of 17 years; two terms on the council and nine years as your mayor – it’s been a great honor to me and a privilege and us, we say, ‘thank you,’” the mayor said.
