DECATUR - Mayor Paul Osborne will resign as mayor Sunday, citing a desire to focus on his role as editor of the weekly Decatur Tribune newspaper and recent health problems with kidney stones.

Councilman Michael Carrigan, the senior member of the council, will serve as mayor pro tem as the council works to appoint a new mayor to serve until next year's municipal election.

Council members expressed surprise at the news.

"I wasn't given any advance notice," Carrigan said. "I'm in complete shock. I know the mayor works very long and hard hours at his paper, and it's common knowledge that he hasn't been feeling well.

"However, I had no clue that he was considering resigning. Obviously, I wish him well, and I'm certain the council will fully discuss this on Monday."

Osborne departs as the city faces several major unresolved issues: recruiting a new city manager to succeed Steve Garman, finding more space for Decatur Police Department, securing additional water resources, revitalizing inner-city neighborhoods and studying whether to reconfigure the makeup of the council to allow for greater geographic representation.

Osborne said he loved being mayor and announcing his resignation amounted to one of the worst days of his life.

In a letter delivered Friday night to council members, Osborne wrote, "Due to dramatically escalating time and energy commitments in both the mayor's position and the Decatur Tribune newspaper, and some health issues that need to be resolved immediately, I will no longer be able to serve as mayor of Decatur, effective June 1, 2008.

"Also, with the growing number and nature of the issues facing the city, in order to maintain the journalistic integrity of the Tribune and my role as editor/publisher, I cannot continue to serve in public office, while writing about the people serving in public office and the issues facing the city.

"This was not a problem during my first four-year term. It has been a growing problem the past year and continues to put both positions at cross purposes in serving the citizens of Decatur and the readers of the Tribune.

"I have been very proud to serve as mayor of Decatur for the past five-plus years and appreciate all of the support I have received and the many new friends and relationships I have made. I certainly love this community of great people and will continue to work hard as editor/publisher to make it even better.

"Although the resignation date is immediate, I will be available at the Tribune office to answer any question that relates to my role during the years I served as mayor. The city council must appoint a new mayor within 60 days to serve until a mayor is elected to a two-year term in the next municipal election in 2009.

"It is with deep regret that I can no longer ethically or physically continue to serve in both positions at the same time. Although no one has made an issue of it, I have been conflicted about the dual roles for several months, and the decision I have made has been one of the most difficult of my life and represents one of the saddest days of my professional career.

"However, I have been a journalist for 40 years and have a great deal of commitment to and pride in my profession. Working as an independent editor/publisher of a community newspaper, where I have the right to cover the news and express my opinion in print, is a great freedom - the freedom of the press - and I hope to continue to exercise that freedom for many more years at the Decatur Tribune."

Osborne said events in his second term have made filling roles as mayor and publisher virtually impossible.

"I can do one or the other," Osborne said. "I just can't do both at the same time anymore.

"Most people say, 'Why not?' You just know at this point it's not right. It worked fine for the first term, but in my mind, heart and soul, it's not working now to be the kind of editor I want to be. That's important to me."

Osborne said he recently received a news release at his newspaper office to cover a news conference held by city union workers, who say the city has "imposed" an unfair contract upon them.

As mayor, Osborne is prohibited by law from getting involved with negotiations.

Osborne also cited controversy over the council's decision last year to buy the financially distressed Decatur Conference Center and Hotel on the city's west end to ensure it remained a hotel and conference center.

Forsyth hotel developer Steve Horve later agreed to buy the hotel from the city for about $7.2 million.

"The last year, we've just really had some major issues and controversy on the council, whether it's the hotel or other issues you really should be writing about as editor," Osborne said. "You have to do that independent of holding public office."

While Osborne served as mayor, former mayoral and council candidate Patrick McDaniel wrote about city government for Osborne's paper.

Osborne said his experiences as mayor will serve him well as editor as he writes about city government.

Council members expressed surprise and sorrow at the mayor's resignation when they received word late Friday evening.

"I haven't had a chance to talk to the mayor, but it certainly comes as a surprise and shock to me," Councilman Patrick Laegeler said. "Mayor Osborne has been great for this city, and he has accomplished a lot.

Laegeler said he knew Osborne had been struggling lately with health issues, and he wishes him the best.

"This is going to be another big challenge that we're going to have to face, replacing Paul and finding the new city manager," Laegeler said. "Our plate was full before, but now it's overflowing."

Councilman Shad Edwards thanked the mayor for his service and said many citizens don't realize the pressures of elected office.

"There's a huge amount of time and a huge commitment to being mayor, and the commitment to his job above and beyond what a councilman's is," Edwards said. "Folks don't realize how much time as mayor he puts in, and he gets the good, the bad and the indifferent, whether he wants it or not."

Councilman Dan Caulkins said he was disappointed to lose the mayor at this point in the city's history.

"It's definitely a loss to the community," Caulkins said. "We're in the midst of a lot of big issues. He's had a large role in shepherding those issues through the council. He has been instrumental; he's been at the head of the table in getting these issues brought forward. We're going to miss that."

Councilwoman Betsy Stockard thanked Osborne for his public service and said the city must move forward.

"We have a lot of issues facing the city," Stockard said.

Stockard said recent resignations, including those of Osborne and former City Manager Steve Garman, put a burden on the city.

"We as a council have to focus long and hard on what we're going to do in the months ahead," Stockard said. "The bottom line is prayer is in order for everything we have to face in the future."

Councilman Mike McElroy did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Friday evening.