His influential tenure will come to an end in December. Foy, who served one four-year term on the Town Council before being elected mayor, announced Thursday that he would not seek re-election again.

He'll be a hard act to follow. You may not agree with everything he's done -- we don't -- but he has served the town well and deserves a lot of respect for the way he has conducted his mayorship. He has shepherded Chapel Hill through a time of enormous change, and he has navigated most of the twists and turns with a deft hand.

During Foy's time as mayor, Chapel Hill ended the Apple Chill street fair and last year successfully scaled back the bloated Halloween gathering.

The town has engaged with the university on planning for Carolina North and with Orange County on the next incarnation of the solid waste system; just a few weeks ago Foy introduced to that long discussion a new contender for a site for a transfer station.

He provided strong leadership on the search for a new site for a shelter for homeless men and in the aftermath of the murder of Eve Carson, when the community was shaken and grieving.

Foy is frank, open and accessible, and he has fostered a culture of openness in Town Hall. You know where you stand with him; if he disagrees with you, or if he hasn't made up his mind on something, he says so.

He has encouraged residents to speak up and get involved in important issues at an early enough stage to influence the course before it is set.

His hasn't been a stumble-free march, of course. The furious uproar over a decision -- later rescinded -- to offer council members health insurance indefinitely after leaving office comes to mind. On a larger scale -- literally -- we think the town under Foy's leadership has been too aggressive in pushing high density and tall buildings downtown.

But disagreements over issues like that are a part of life in any community. You can't expect the leaders you elect to agree with you on everything.

What you do have a right to expect is that they will act honorably, listen to other views, treat those they encounter with respect, learn from their mistakes and serve the public to the best of their ability. On those counts, Foy will leave office having earned the respect of his constituents.