The mayors of the two largest municipalities in Moore County have decided to step aside this year.

Mike Haney, who was elected mayor of Southern Pines in 2007 after a decade of serving as a Town Council member, says he will not seek re-election in November. Ginsey Fallon, who replaced the late George Lane in Pinehurst last year, will not seek re-election as mayor but instead will run for council.

"I'll be honest, it's kind of a sad day for me," Haney said Tuesday. "I really love the town. I'm going to miss it."

Haney said he has "wrestled" with the decision since the beginning of the year.

"I certainly have mixed feelings," he said. "I really struggled with this. But once I made the decision, I knew there was no turning back. That being said, it has been an incredible honor to serve as mayor of such a great community. I've enjoyed it tremendously, and I appreciate the citizens who have allowed me to serve."

Fallon was first elected to the council in 1993. She has served continuously since then in various capacities, including mayor and mayor pro tem. She still hopes to continue to serve the village.

"I still have a lot of pet projects that I would like to see through, but maybe the time is right for me to step back and let someone else step up to the plate," Fallon said Tuesday.

She called it a very difficult decision because she loved being mayor.

"An awful lot of people wanted me to run, and I seriously considered it," she said. "But this is a way to still be involved and contribute."

She was most recently elected to the council in 2007. After she was appointed mayor last year, Mark Parson was appointed to her council seat.

Both seats are up for election this fall, along with the seat held by Joan Thurman.

Haney, 63, plans to devote more time to his growing business - Haney Financial Services - and his family. He and his wife, Carol, have two adult daughters and two grandchildren.

"I really feel like I need to spend more time on the practice," he said. "It will also be nice to spend more time with my family."

Haney also believes that his successor will continue making "meaningful decisions" that make Southern Pines "such an enjoyable place to live."

The filing period for candidates in municipal elections begins at noon Friday and runs through noon July 15.

In addition to mayor, two council seats will also be up for grabs in Southern Pines. The seats held by Mike Fields and Fred Walden are up for election in November.

Mayoral and town commissioner seats will also be open in other municipalities.

In Aberdeen, the mayor and three seats on the town board of commissioners are up for election. The mayor serves a two-year term. Betsy Mofield is the incumbent mayor. The seats on the town board held by Robert Farrell, Pat Ann McMurray and Jim Thomas are up for grabs. The town board seats are four-year terms.

Voters in Carthage will elect a mayor and two members of the town board of commissioners. The current mayor is Tom Stewart. Commissioners Lisa Caddell and Jean Riley will complete their four-year terms.

In Robbins, Mayor Theron Bell will complete her four-year term, along with commissioners Hal Davis and Lynn Loy.

Staff writer Hannah Sharpe contributed to this report.