At a press conference Tuesday afternoon Mayor Harvey Hall announced he is not running for re-election in 2016.
"It is still the best job in America. I am humbled and honored that the title was mine," said Hall.
Hall said he wants to spend more time with family. He wants to be able to attend his daughter's basketball games and his granddaughter's softball games.
Though Hall said he would not seek a fifth term, he is already Bakersfield’s longest serving mayor.
Hall beat out nine other candidates in the 2000 election and became the 25th mayor of Bakersfield on January 2, 2001, replacing then Mayor Bob Price.
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During his 2001 acceptance speech he spoke about his vision for Bakersfield, things like redevelopment, adopting a tree ordinance and public transportation.
The 2001 ceremony was light hearted between Price and Hall, “You are the mayor elect, I am the mayor un-elect,” joked Price.
Hall ran under the slogan “Unity in the community” and was reelected in 2004, 2008, and 2012.
Hall said he was going with the old sports phrase, 'leave while you're at the top of your game.' He said, "I believe I am still at the top of my game and I have concluded that the advice is sound."
After 15 years in office, Hall has attended more than 900 ribbon cuttings and has given more than 850 speeches. Hall said he is most proud of his student scholarship fun which was created out of the mayor's salary and his beautification work.
Moving forward, Hall said he intends to fulfill his duties and looks forward to interviewing future candidates who apply for mayor of Bakersfield.
He asked Bakersfield residents to "keep moving forward in a positive way so that we can continue to make Bakersfield the best city in America."
