Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd submitted a letter of resignation from his city commission seat effective Jan. 7.

“I have been offered the chance to pursue different professional opportunities that will require a significant amount of my time and attention,” Floyd said. “Decatur is a wonderfully unique community and it has been an honor and a privilege to serve on the City Commission and to be mayor.”

Floyd was elected to the Decatur City Commission in Nov. 1991, served as mayor pro tem from 1994-97, and has served as mayor since 1999. Floyd has served on the Georgia Municipal Association as the president, Metropolitan Atlanta Mayors Association as chairman, executive committee for the Regional Transportation Sales Tax and on the board of directors of the Atlanta Regional Commission.

Floyd has been active on numerous boards, including the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center and the Decatur Education Foundation.

“Mayor Floyd has provided outstanding leadership and support for the city of Decatur,” stated City Manager Peggy Merriss. “He has been a huge part of our success. His humble approach and obvious pride in the city makes others want to be successful as well. He has championed our staff and challenged us to be better people. He will be missed.”

The Decatur City Commission annually elects one of its own to serve as mayor at its first meeting each January. The election for mayor is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 7, at 7:30 p.m.

It is expected that the Decatur City Commission will call a special election for March 19 to fill Floyd’s unexpired term as a commissioner for the city’s north district. The call for the election, the establishment of the qualifying period and other details will be considered at the commission’s Jan. 22 meeting.