Decatur businessman Scott Drake is running for the Decatur Commission seat being vacated by longtime Mayor Bill Floyd.

Drake announced his candidacy for the District 1 commission seat Thursday on Decatur Metro. His statement said in part,

As a City of Decatur business owner, a parent with two daughters in our fine school system, and with deep roots in the community, I feel this is an important opportunity for me to give back and help shape our future. I ask for your support in this time of transition and if given the opportunity to serve on the Commission, I hope to continue building on the foundation which so many in our community have contributed over the years.

Floyd, mayor since 1998, is resigning from the commission to take a job with Dunwoody-based Pendleton Consulting Group.

The city commission meets Monday, Jan. 7, to pick a new mayor from among its members. Floyd's resignation is effective that day and he says he won't attend the meeting.

The commission will meet Jan. 22 and is expected to call a special election for March 19 to fill Floyd's seat.

Floyd, 66, has been Decatur's northside city commissioner since 1991, served as mayor pro tem from 1994 to 1997 and mayor since 1998.

In Decatur, the other commissioners choose the mayor, not the voters.