LONGVIEW, Texas — The city of Longview held a reception to celebrate outgoing Mayor Andy Mack’s nine years of service in the role.
Friends, family, public servants and other members of the Longview community were in attendance on Thursday to celebrate Mack’s public service career.
"I’ve grown an incredible bond between myself and the employees of the city of Longview," Mack said.
Dozens of city officials spoke about the impact that Mack has had on Longview including Mayor-Elect Kristen Ishihara, who spoke at length about the things that he has accomplished in office, as well as how much she learned from him while she was a city council member from 2014 to 2023.
"So our terms overlapped eight years. We served together, so that was my first political experience, my first time on council. I really would say that Andy kinda grew me up and I learned a lot of the way from watching him act and him respond to things. And then also just having the benefit of being able to call him and say 'hey Andy tell me what you would do in this situation,' Ishihara said.
Going forward, Mack said he isn’t going to disappear – Longview is still the place he’s proud to call home.
But he feels that it’s time for him to take a step back and allow others to come in and try to improve the city. Now, he can relax a little bit, and enjoy the things he’s been working for.
"I’ll be helping things behind the scenes, but I’m not going to be in the limelight anymore. It’s just not my place any longer. And so I’ll be happy to go home, enjoy my family, enjoy my business, my son, my daughters, my grandchildren and my wife," Mack said.