Kyle Mayor Lucy Johnson announced Dec. 31 that she will not be in the running for the mayorship come May 2014, when her term expires.

Johnson, who first took the helm after winning the vote in a 2010 special election, would have been up for a third term, but the 29-year-old mayor opted to turn her focus to urban planning, which she studied at Texas State University.

She said the last five years have commanded a lot of her time and she hopes that in addition to dedicating more time to her career, she can also spend more time with family and on personal improvement.

"Although I really do enjoy being here, I haven't put the time into those three different areas over the last four years, and I would like to get the opportunity to do that," Johnson said.

As for whether she plans to return to public office in the future, the mayor said she can see herself coming back to fill an elected role.

"I've never seen myself as someone who wants a lifetime career in politics," Johnson said. "At the same time, I have enjoyed the work I have gotten to do as mayor."

Johnson was elected to an at-large seat on the City Council in 2008. In 2010, then-mayor Mike Gonzales left his post to seek election to the Hays County Commissioners Court, prompting a special election.

A Hays High School graduate and Kyle native, the mayor said renewing her passion of travel is one of her goals in the New Year as well as continuing to lead a happy and healthy lifestyle.

She said she is open to a move away from Kyle. But with deep roots in the area, she said, "If I did leave, I don't think I'd be gone long."

Even away from public life, Johnson plans on maintaining an active role in Kyle.

"I really can't say how much I've enjoyed my time," she said. "There's always going to be reasons to continue on with Kyle. Just because I'm leaving office doesn't mean I won't be involved in Kyle."