Singh announced earlier this month that he won’t run for re-election in the Nov. 6 East Lansing City Council elections, concluding a relationship with the community that dates back to 1994, when he graduated from MSU with a bachelor’s degree in history.

“I’ve had the opportunity now to serve the local community for 12 years — 10 years as a councilmember and two years as a mayor — and I just felt like it was the right time for me to pass the mantle of leadership onto others in the community,” Singh said.

Singh also will step down as president and CEO of the Michigan Nonprofit Association — a post he’s held for 10 years.

He said he won’t make any decisions about his future until his council term expires in November.

“It’ll be interesting to see how that all comes together,” Singh said. “In 2008, I’m going to have a fresh slate. I think by October, I’ll have a sense of exactly what I’m doing.”

When he was appointed mayor by the East Lansing City Council, Singh said he had three main objectives: turning the city into an environmental leader, developing and diversifying the city’s economic infrastructure and strengthening the relationship with MSU.

Singh said he believes he’s accomplished those goals, but his greatest accomplishment has been facilitating a relationship between MSU and East Lansing that, in his opinion, is the strongest it’s been in his 12 years as a public servant.

“Hopefully, once people take a look at the past two years, they’ll take a look at the relationship with the university,” Singh said. “That relationship that we’ve cultivated over the last two years is probably the one thing that I hope that people remember my involvement with.”

The relationship between MSU and the city are testaments to Singh’s inclusive approach to his work, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said.

“During his time on the council, and especially during his tenure as mayor, Sam has been committed to collaboration,” Simon said in a statement. “We’ve worked together on issues and opportunities to serve MSU, East Lansing and the region.

“He has made it a priority to improve relationships between a great city and a great university, and that foundation will serve us well.”

While Singh’s work with the university has been significant, enacting legislation to protect the environment was an equally important measure, Councilmember Diane Goddeeris said.

“While mayor pro tem, he built on his vision to move our city to be more environmentally conscious,” Goddeeris said.

When Singh’s term concludes, the next mayor will emerge from the City Council. However, the council, which is comprised of five members, including the mayor, could look a lot different in November.

Four candidates are competing for three spots.

Incumbents Beverly Baten and Goddeeris, whose terms both expire, each filed for re-election. Nathan Triplett, vice chairman of East Lansing’s Human Relations Commission, and attorney Roger Peters have launched campaigns to challenge their seats.