DeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsen announced he will not be running for re-election in this April.

Povlsen served 11 years as an alderman and five years as mayor.

“I think the main reason is after 16 years, maybe it’s time to step down,” Povlsen said. “I’ve been retired for three years. I’m 65 years old and I have kids and grandkids.”

It is time for someone new to take over, Povlsen said.

“It has to do with more flexibility and along with that, new ideas, new blood in the community,” Povlsen said.

One of his important accomplishments, according to Povlsen, is turning the city’s fiscal budget around.

“We’ve also reconfigured our staff patterns in our department, began to complete downtown development, created the smoking ban and have had much collaboration with NIU,” Povlsen said.

Povlsen said he has enjoyed the overall experience of serving the DeKalb community as mayor.

“It’s been an honor to get involved, meet interesting new residents,” Polvsen said. “It’s made my life more rich as an individual.”

According to a Sept. 22 Daily Chronicle article, Sixth Ward Alderman Dave Baker described Povlsen as “the right guy for the job at the right time.”

“One of the great things about Kris Povlsen is, when we have a disagreement, it has never been personal,” Baker said.

Povlsen said along with spending more time with his family, he is also looking forward to traveling in the near future.