WATERLOO - Mayor Tim Hurley will not be on the ballot in the fall.

The three-term incumbent announced today he will not seek re-election when voters head to the polls Nov. 3 to select the next Waterloo mayor.

"One of the greatest things in my life has been the privilege of serving the citizens of Waterloo," Hurley said. "And I plan to approach the remaining seven months on the job the same way as I have for the past 5 1/2 years - with energy, focus, dedication and hard work."

A number of "small things" contributed to Hurley's decision to opt out after six years in the mayor's office.

"I started thinking about this after the last election and I made up my mind a couple of months ago," he said. "It's just one of those things when you sense it's time."

Hurley said his decision to announce his intentions now clears the way for others to enter the race.

"I just think it's fair," he said. "Those interested in the job, gear up."

The announcement throws wide open the race for Waterloo mayor, and four council seats are also up for grabs this year. Ward 1 Councilman Reggie Schmitt, Ward 3 Councilman Harold Getty, Ward 5 Councilman Ron Welper and at-large Councilman Bob Greenwood are all in the final year of their four-year terms.

No candidates have yet stepped forward to throw their hats into the ring.

Hurley replaced five-term incumbent mayor John Rooff in 2004, after defeating Doug Miller in the city's first mayoral run-off election in 2003. Rooff did not qualify for the run-off.

Hurley was re-elected in 2005, again defeating Rooff and challenger Craig Hundley, and won his third term in 2007 with 70 percent of the vote over Hundley.

Hurley previously served two years as the Ward 1 City Council representative. He retired from a 36-year career as an engineer at John Deere in 2003 before becoming mayor. He also previously was a Waterloo Water Works trustee.

With the city busy working on downtown and riverfront development, flood mitigation efforts, budget challenges and other issues, Hurley said the remainder of his tenure will be busy.

"There's a tremendous amount of work to be done," he said. "I doubt if I'll see the complete riverfront (project) through to completion. We need to have some honest talk about what the next few fiscal years will look like."