Tamaqua Mayor Nathan Gerace, who was elected to office as a teenager, announced Sunday that he will not be seeking a third term.

In a letter addressed to Tamaqua residents, Gerace told of his decision while thanking residents for their support, citing the progress made while he was in office, and calling his service “the greatest honor” in his life.

“As I begin my eighth year as your mayor, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey it has been to serve this community that I love so deeply. I was honored to take office as your mayor on Jan. 2, 2018, at just 19 years old, and I remain immensely grateful for the trust you placed in me not once, but twice, by re-electing me to this position,” Gerace wrote.

In the time that he has served, Gerace said much progress has been made.

“I am particularly proud of my efforts to increase community policing, reduce violent crime, give residents a voice, and work to de-stigmatize addiction in our community,” he wrote.

The borough’s police department, he noted, was one of the first to carry Narcan, which is administered to those who have overdosed on opioids. The treatment, he said, allowed officers to save lives and give second chances to those in crisis.

“As a department we built strong relationships with our schools to ensure students feel safe and supported, and we’ve maintained a police department that operates at the highest standards, always putting the safety of our residents first,” Gerace wrote.

Outside of policing, Gerace noted that he had the privilege of chairing the Complete Count Committee for the U.S. Census, which ensured every voice in Tamaqua was heard so that the borough received the funding it deserved.

“As chairman of the uniformed and non-uniformed pension boards, I’ve worked alongside a dedicated volunteer team to make sound decisions that secure the future for our borough employees,” he continued. “Throughout my time in office, borough and elected officials, as well as volunteers, have worked hard to advance the mission of the City Revitalization Improvement Zone to bring economic development projects to the borough making it a better place for everyone to live.”

In his letter, he continued, “Today, I am announcing that I will not be seeking a third term as mayor of Tamaqua.”

Gerace said he was fortunate to work with many police chiefs during his tenure, including former chiefs Rick Weaver and Henry Woods; former acting chief Dwayne Hacker, and current chief Michael Hobbs, along with a dedicated team of officers, all of whom he said “truly care about Tamaqua.”

“It has been an honor to serve alongside them,” he said.

Gerace said none of it would have been possible without the support of his family.

“My parents, Phil and Lucy, my siblings, Toni, Frankie, and Julian, and my grandparents Barb and Phil, have been my anchor, offering guidance and encouragement every step of the way. To them, I owe a debt of gratitude that words cannot fully express,” he wrote.

He continued, “Above all, God has blessed me abundantly and led me on this journey in public office. All praise and glory to him.”

He issued his gratitude to residents.

“Finally, I want to thank all of you, the residents of Tamaqua, for giving me the opportunity to serve as your Mayor,” he wrote. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to work on behalf of our community, and I am appreciative of the trust and support you have shown me. As this chapter comes to a close, I look forward to continuing to support Tamaqua in other ways and watching our borough thrive in the years ahead.”

Gerace closed the letter by writing, “Thank you for allowing me to serve.”