Rutland Mayor John Cassarino announced Wednesday he will not run for a fifth term.

Cassarino, 63, has had a contentious year, dealing with problems in the Treasurer's Office, the effects of a citywide reappraisal, budget battles with the Board of Aldermen and squabbles with the police chief and the police union.

The mayor said those challenges weren't a factor in his decision to step down.

"I'm not walking out of here in March bitter; I'm walking away grateful to have served," he said.

Cassarino, whose two-year term expires in March, said his reasons for leaving are more personal.

"I want to travel," he said. "I have children and friends all over the world and I want to see them. There are a lot of things I haven't been doing for the last 20-plus years because I've been involved in politics and the (Open Door Mission) for years."

Cassarino has been mayor for 7-1/2 years. Before that he was a city alderman for 16 years, including four years as board president. In 1981, he opened the Open Door Mission, which still operates a homeless shelter and soup kitchen on Park Street.

"My wife and I have given everything to our community," said the mayor, whose wife, Mary, retired from the city's school district last year. "I'm still going to be doing things, just not from here."

Cassarino said he decided to announce his plans now, to give mayoral hopefuls time to plan their campaigns. No one has announced plans to run for office, but political observers in the city suggest there may be a large crop of candidates, including three or four aldermen.

The mayor didn't say who he would like to replace him. He did, however, describe the characteristics he believes a successful candidate should have.

Cassarino's campaign slogan depicted him as the "mayor with a heart." Cassarino said he connected with voters, not because of his standing as an alderman or mayor, but because he got to know voters and they got to know him.

"People want to know who you are, not what you are," he said. "People want to be able to trust you."

During his tenure, Cassarino has seen the city through good times and bad times. He has dealt with an influx of drugs into the city, exemplified by three-drug related murders that shook residents' faith in their security. He also navigated through contract impasses, settled a $2.4 million dispute with Diamond Run Mall owner Damian Zamias over impact fees, and pushed for streetscape projects such as the ornamental lighting on Merchants Row and Center streets.

The events of the past twelve month have been the most trying of his term in a number of ways, he said. But he said he's glad he was mayor when some of the problems, such as the city's financial woes, came to light.

"I'm not glad that these problems occurred, but I would rather have them happen while I'm here than when I'm gone and someone else inherits them," he said. "It is a demand being here sometimes. But I didn't cut and run."

Contact Brent Curtis at brent.curtis@rutlandherald.com.