Editor's note: This article expands upon earlier coverage.
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Jefferson City Mayor Eric Struemph will not seek re-election in the spring, citing health concerns and family responsibilities.
The announcement, which was made Thursday, comes almost two months before filing opens for city offices. In deciding not to seek the office again, Struemph said he began thinking about it within the past year after health issues were discovered.
"I really struggled with this for a long time," Struemph said. "I was diagnosed with cancer."
He said earlier this year, a cancerous growth was found on his bladder. Surgery was able to clear the growth, he said, and it is rare for that type of growth to return, but the issue of cancer hit him hard.
"When you hear that word, it kind of makes you sit back and think about things in a different way," Struemph said.
To compound the issue, Struemph said he rushed back to work, took on too much too fast and further compromised his health.
"I didn't start back slow, I just went full speed again and ended up with pneumonia," he said.
But he didn't know that's what he had for about two or three weeks, worsening the condition. Struemph wound up hospitalized at St. Mary's Health Center for six days.
"That's probably when I started to think about (leaving office)," Struemph said.
Another consideration for Struemph was his father's health. Struemph said his father has Alzheimer's disease and has begun deteriorating in the last couple of years, reaching the end stages of the disease.
"That's a huge reason," Struemph said. "I want to be able to see Dad as much as I can and be able to help (my mother) around the house."
Struemph also cited his two daughters, who are freshmen at Lincoln University and Jefferson City High School. Struemph said many people in public office find themselves distracted by the job even when home with their families, and he wants to spend more time with his daughters and wife now.
He said his work, Phillips and Company, where he is general manager, was not a factor in his decision, noting the company has always been supportive of his public service.
Struemph said he chose to make the announcement to give other potential candidates time to gather support before city filing opens Dec. 16.
He said while no one has spoken to him specifically about running for mayor, he said he could see himself endorsing a candidate down the road if he felt strongly about them. He also encouraged anyone to run for the office, saying it's not necessary to have any public service background to serve.
"I look forward to talking with all the candidates," Struemph said. "I would really encourage anyone to run."
Struemph said his biggest accomplishment so far has been making City Hall more business friendly and efficient. When asked how that's been accomplished, Struemph cited the city's separation incentive plan, or SIP, that was started after an unexpected budget shortfall was announced in 2013.
"We were able to rearrange people without layoffs," Struemph said.
The program sought to cut personnel by offering early retirement packages to eligible city employees. The positions left open by the program remained vacant until Struemph eliminated a majority of those positions in the 2015 budget.
But he noted he's still got six months left in office to accomplish more.
"I'd rather answer that question in six months," Struemph said.
Moving forward, Struemph said he would remain involved in any city projects or issues he has an interest in, and the news release from Thursday morning stated he would not rule out the possibility of seeking public office in the future.
And the biggest lesson he's learned in his nearly four years as mayor?
"You have to lead, but you can't push," he said.
Without the support of at least six council members, the mayor cannot accomplish much of anything, Struemph said.
Struemph was elected as mayor in February 2011 after serving two years as a 4th Ward councilman.