Ledyard — Mayor John Rodolico has announced he won't run for re-election in this year's race.

Rodolico, a Republican, garnered almost 1,780 votes in the 2011 election, defeating Republican incumbent Fred Allyn Jr. by more than 1,000 votes. Allyn ran as a petitioning candidate after failing to get the party's endorsement.

In the almost four years since, the town has won a lawsuit with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe regarding leased slot machines in the tribe's casino, installed new water lines and discovered new uses for the former Gales Ferry School property.

But Rodolico considers the biggest accomplishments of his tenure to be the taxpayers' May 2013 approval of the new police building project and their January approval of the school consolidation project.

"Those two things are going to be very defining projects for the town well into the future," he said.

Rodolico, who told staffers and other colleagues of his decision last week, said part of what went into it was looking at the commitment another four years as mayor would entail.

"I did not feel at this point it was best for me to make that decision," he said.

State Rep. Mike France, R-Ledyard, who is also chairman of the Republican Town Committee, said the committee is saddened by Rodolico's announcement.

"We're disappointed, to say the least," France said. "The town of Ledyard has enjoyed great leadership, with him and the town council, at the town level."

He said Rodolico has worked to streamline the operation of town government, combining positions when possible and dropping services that towns shouldn't provide.

"When I was chair of the finance committee, his question always was, 'What's the appropriate role of town government?'" said France, who previously sat on the Ledyard Town Council. "He challenged us at every turn to define that."

France also said Rodolico "improved the dialogue" among the town council, the mayor's office and other town department heads.

Town Council Chairman Linda Davis expressed similar thoughts, calling the cooperation between the mayor's office and the town council "unprecedented."

"John brought us a new brand of open government," Davis said, citing his regular communication with council members and his push to put "every aspect of the town side of government" online at openledyard.com.　"I think it is safe to say that every member of the town council will miss John in a big way."

From here, France said, the committee will proceed as it often does, not necessarily seeking out mayoral candidates, but vetting those who express interest. He said he believes the committee's nominating arm has until mid-July to make an endorsement.

"It's disappointing," France reiterated. "Certainly (Rodolico's) leadership has been positive. A lot of people would have enjoyed him running for a second term."

As for what's next for Rodolico, he said he's not sure.

"I've been involved in town government for over 30 years now," he said. "I'm sure I'll remain involved to some degree, but I don't know to what capacity that will be."

l.boyle@theday.com

Twitter: @LindsayABoyle