Central Mayor Shelton Watts says he won't seek a third elected term in April's city elections.
Watts, a Republican, was first appointed by Gov. Kathleen Blanco in July 2005 to run the newly formed city of Central, which had broken away in the previous April from East Baton Rouge city-parish government.
Watts was elected to the position in 2006 by a wide margin. He was re-elected in 2010 in a much closer election where he earned 52 percent of the vote. Watts has been the city's only mayor.
Watts said the prospect of a re-election fight didn't influence his decision. Watts turns 70 in January
Watts said he and his wife own a couple of time shares, love golfing and want to travel.