ELBERTA — Mayor Jim Hamby said he will serve the four years to which he was elected but will step down before the end of his extended term in 2025.

Most elected city and town officials in Alabama serve four-year terms. The Alabama Legislature voted in 2021 to extend the terms of office for mayors and municipal councils for one year, setting elections in 2025. Hamby said he will serve the four years for which he was elected and then step down.

"Our state legislature for whatever reason and I have not talked to anybody about this, it might be well founded, it might be the smartest thing in history, decided to give elected officials one extra year because they didn't want our elections in 2024," Hamby told Town Council members Tuesday, March 15. "They didn't want it on the same time as something else. So, they moved it to 2025.

Thereby giving elected officials an extra year in office. I did not agree to it. I didn't sign on for that. Eight years is enough for George Washington. Eight years is enough for Jim Hamby. I'm not comparing myself to George Washington. I'm just following his example."

He said the council will appoint a replacement to serve the remaining year of the extended term.

"So, at the end of what would be my normal four years that I agreed to serve, I'm going to resign," Hamby said. "At that point, this council is going to have to decide which one of y'all is going to be mayor for the rest of that term. This council is going to have to bring somebody else in to fill whoever's spot is moved up to mayor and that's going to happen."

Hamby is serving his second term. He said he has been honored by the chance to serve Elberta.

"I gave this town my early retirement and now it's time for my retirement," Hamby said. "This has been the greatest honor of my life to be mayor and every good adjective that you could possibly think of goes along with it."

"I am going to give this town the full four years I promised. I'm going to give them the full four years they elected me for. The ones that love me, I'm going to give you what I promised. The ones that hate me, you'll get your opportunity in the next election," Hamby added.