EAGLE- The mayor of Eagle says he's ready for a career outside of politics and this Friday, Phil Bandy will no longer be running the city.
Tuesday was the final city council meeting under his leadership.
He did not show up but did phone in.
For a man who fought two years ago for this public seat, he's now not telling the public exactly why he left.
His absence at the meeting was notable, as citizens came to find out what his departure means for them.
“I think it's really sad for a community when your leadership changes whether it's an election or a resignation because it leaves your community deciding or wondering which direction they're going," said Teri Bath of the Eagle Chamber of Commerce.
Bandy was in office for only half his term, and while there made news.
Last summer, he was the deciding yes vote in a city wide smoking ban which the city council later reversed.
Earlier in the year, 11 city jobs were cut. He said it would save $300,000 in a tight economy.
And in 2008, he supported purchasing a water company.
But not everyone supported his decisions.
“I think there's been a segment of the population of Eagle that had something personal with Mayor Bandy from the time he was elected and they never seemed to want to let it go,” said Eagle President Mike Huffaker.
Huffaker will temporarily replace Bandy.
He doesn't know why Bandy left either but believes it partly has to do with his critics.
“I think sometimes the community has shown Mayor Bandy over the last year and a half their mistrust or a question about his integrity that probably helped him make a decision and I think that's really sad because until you walk in somebody's shoes you don't know what the position holds," said Bath.
"Kind of heartbroken. I just learned about it and he's been amazing in the community," said Eagle resident Lori Swanson. “I wish him the best.”
On Tuesday agenda, the council discussed the process it will take to replace him.
So far, they're putting together an informal list of people who have expressed interest in the spot.
They also plan to talk about whether the mayor's position should go back to part-time.
Bandy was its first full-time mayor and got an annual salary of $72,000 a year.
In January, Bandy began a part-time job at BSU as a director for a geothermal project. He'll get nearly $20,000 for a six-month contract.
