In an emailed press release on Thursday, Oct. 26, Mayor Linda Kavanagh announced she will not be seeking re-election to the post next year.

“It is with mixed emotions that I announce that I will not be running for re-election as your mayor. The past six years have been exciting, professionally fulfilling and at times challenging,” Kavanagh wrote. “Each town council has been confronted with different and sometimes difficult problems as the town has grown and now nears build-out.

“Looking back since I first took office, the council and I have made great accomplishments such as completing our downtown, improving our infrastructure especially our parks, balancing our budget without raising taxes, and maintaining a great quality of life for our residents.

“We have made sure that public safety is always a priority and have worked to improve our roads, support our business community and our school system, and have ensured that Fountain Hills is well represented at the state and county level.

I have completed the goals that I set for myself when I embarked on this very important endeavor of taking care of the hometown that I love. It has been a great honor and a privilege to be the mayor of such an extraordinary town.”

In a separate email Kavanagh announced her endorsement of Councilman Cecil Yates as her replacement.

“I am thrilled that Cecil Yates has decided to run for mayor,” Kavanagh said. “[He] is an outstanding council member who knows the issues and looks after the taxpayers’ bets interests.”

Kavanagh said she has not given any thought to any immediate political plans, but said she is not ruling out anything for the future.