Mr Pearce has led council since 2012, and became the shire's first popularly elected mayor in 2016.

His time as part of the local leadership team has not been without its challenges.

He saw off several attempts to merge Uralla Shire Council with Armidale.

"I was involved with several attempts of forced amalgamation by the state government, and also involved with an amalgamation attempt by the former Armidale Dumaresq Council," he said.

"We survived all these attempts thanks to a very vocal community who clearly stated the Uralla Shire Council should stay as a stand-alone council."

Among his other achievements he lists securing funding for the Bundarra sewerage project, along with numerous bridges and parks across the region.

That service has not gone unrecognised by fellow councillor Isabel Strutt, who had already served a term before Mr Pearce was elected to council in 2008.

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Having seen him become deputy mayor, then mayor, then chair of the New England Joint Organisation, she said his dedication across the years was never in question.

"Being the mayor is a demanding job and I think Michael has been very sincere in doing his job, and I'm sure he has done as best as he can," she said.

"He's chaired a number of committees and organisations that work within the region in the local government area, he's certainly been a very hard-working, responsible mayor.

"Anybody carrying out a job at times feels the time is right for them to be able to close that chapter of their service and move onto something else."

Mr Pearce said at this stage he can't see himself returning to local government, and is satisfied that between his time on council and as a police officer before that, he has served the community well.

"At this stage this is definitely the end, I spent 13 years with Uralla council and 30 years as a cop," he said.

"So 43 years serving the community is not a bad effort and it's time for me to sit back and look after number one."

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