The decision caps off an illustrious 35 straight years as a councillor, 16 of those as mayor.

Just three months ago, the 63-year-old made the shock announcement he would again run for mayor, amid a bitter fall-out with current mayor and former close friend Dino Zappacosta.

But after discussions with family and friends – and a wrestle with his conscience – Cr Dal Broi elected to make the current term his last.

“I always thought this term would be my last but I had a change of heart when I saw the way the present mayor was running the council,” Cr Dal Broi said.

“Being sacked as chair of the sister city committee – a committee that was very close to my heart – just added insult to injury.

“I think that’s what tipped me over the edge to wanting to run again.

“But after thinking about it, I realised I was running for all the wrong reasons and that my stand was perhaps political, rather than for the good of the community.

“I’ve done 35 years, it’s now time to hand it over to people younger than myself.”

Cr Dal Broi said a series of personal crises – including the spectacular collapse of Dal Broi Wines in 2006 – had also contributed to his decision.

“The business collapse affected me and it still does,” he said.

“I’ve always prided myself on paying bills on time and supporting local businesses that supported me.

“When your business falls over and you can’t do that, it hurts you and your family.”

He said helping steer the future of the city for 35 years had been an “exhilarating ride”.

“Seeing the place grow, seeing Griffith become a city, has been a real buzz,” he said.

“At times it was tough, I questioned why I was doing it, but ultimately it’s been very satisfying.”

Among his highlights in office, Cr Dal Broi nominated the housing growth on the eastern side of the city, bringing a water filtration plant to Griffith, establishing sister city ties, helping build the city’s cultural facilities and helping form the powerful Country Mayor’s Association.

He said the biggest challenge for future councils would be to halt the power grab by state governments.

“They’ve taken the local out of local government and not a month goes past when more of our powers and responsibilities aren’t stripped away,” he said.

“We need to continue to fight to retain those powers to make local decisions locally.”