POST FALLS - Mayor Clay Larkin's pickup truck license plate states he's a "Gadbout."

His office is filled with memorabilia, ranging from awards to groundbreaking shovels and hard hats to mussels on a pipe as a visual of how invasive species can wreak havoc on waterways.

Larkin, who is not seeking re-election on Nov. 5, has just more than two months left as mayor.

He said he's had an amazing time serving as mayor - or he wouldn't have been in the saddle for 13 years, longer than any of Post Falls' previous 35 mayors.

"When I leave in January, I'll do so knowing I'm leaving the city a bit better than what it was when I took over as mayor," Larkin said.

Larkin announced last spring that he'd seek four more years, but a few months later, opted not to.

"I'm getting tired in all honesty - mentally and physically," the 77-year-old said. "I've had some major health issues, and that's a bit about what drove me to step down.

"I took a good look in the mirror and said, 'You know what? You've been doing this for a long time. It's time for somebody else who can take it to the next level.' My wife (Deanna) has been very patient with me all of these years."

Prior to becoming mayor, Larkin served five years on the city council.

Larkin said, after his term ends, he plans to unwind and prepare his pontoon boat for fishing, which he hasn't done for three years. But he suspects folks will see him serving in some capacity again in the not-so-distant future.

"My wife says I'll have to find something or I'll go nuts," he said.

Larkin recalls being "excited and a little nervous" being appointed as mayor in 2001 after Gus Johnson was elected as a county commissioner.

"I thought I'd give it my best shot because I had the time," he said. "Over a period of time, good things started to happen."

Larkin said, at the time, much of Post Falls was in the mood for one-stop-shopping so residents didn't have to go elsewhere.

"We needed a box store," he said. In January 2002 the Wal-Mart on Mullan Avenue opened.

"A lot of people said, 'Thank goodness we can buy Christmas gifts here without going to another city,'" Larkin said. "But there was also some opposition from smaller businesses that didn't want to be wiped out."

It was relatively mild opposition compared to many Wal-Mart starts.

"That store has become a poster child for Wal-Mart," Larkin said, referring to its success in sales.

Several other large businesses - of which Post Falls didn't have many - followed suit, including Buck Knives, Sysco, Ground Force Manufacturing, Cabela's, major auto dealers, medical and senior facilities and the ALK-Abello pharmaceutical firm.

Larkin said some of his proudest moments were sitting at the table with those firms and others, explaining what Post Falls had to offer for businesses wanting to locate here.

"I don't take credit for anything, but I served on the teams that brought a lot of great businesses to the community," Larkin said.

But, due to the recession, there's a lot of unfinished business with economic development that will resume with the new mayor. Post Falls Landing in the city center, Expo near Love's, the Pointe at Post Falls anchored by Cabela's and the Highway 41 corridor have all been slow to develop.

"It will all come in due time," Larkin said.

Multiple new city buildings, including the library, police station and City Hall, have been constructed with Larkin in leadership.

There have been many tense moments, some of which caused Larkin to become feisty at times. And there were the curveballs that kept things interesting.

"One time in the old City Hall a citizen in a big cowboy hat and a booming voice demanded out of the blue that the city declare itself a United Nations-free zone," Larkin said. "Finally, we got him calmed down, but how do you deal with something like that?"

Larkin's indoctrination into city government came when a local improvement district to fund sidewalks and swales in the heart of the city was proposed.

"Boy, did we get an earful (from residents)," he said. "People didn't want to pay taxes when the improvements weren't done to begin with. We backed off - big time."

In 2001 developer Harry Green unveiled grand plans for the Post Falls Landing multi-use project to anchor the city center. Aside from condominiums, the marina and infrastructure improvements funded through urban renewal, the project has fizzled.

Larkin locked horns with Green at various stages, and Green has since lost the project due to financial woes. At one point, the city considered constructing the City Hall in the project.

"We still have all the renderings (of Post Falls Landing)," Larkin said. "Our hope is that it can be eventually developed by a single developer (rather than piece by piece)."

During his entire time as mayor, Larkin has fought to bring the Greensferry overpass to life. Finally, it's set to be built next year.

Larkin took a hard stand on environmental issues and protecting the aquifer, the region's drinking water source. He opposed the construction of BNSF Railway's refueling depot near Hauser because it could be a threat to the aquifer.

"There was a tremendous grassroots petition to stop it," Larkin said.

Being involved in young lives has been a hallmark of Larkin's. He started the Mayor's Youth Commission that has honored more than 2,000 youths in the past 12 years, and has attended more than 60 Eagle Scout ceremonies.

Larkin has earned several awards as mayor, including Post Falls Citizen of the Year, being named to the economic development agency Inland Northwest Partners' Hall of Fame, the Harold Hurst Award from the Association of Idaho Cities for outstanding performance in city government and the Art Manley Award from the Kootenai Evironmental Alliance.

"I have awards with my name on them, but most of them belong to the city team," he said.

Perhaps the biggest award has been working with city staff, the community and organizations he has served with, he said.

Whether he was reading "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" to kids during a community celebration, cutting ribbons at new businesses or speaking to groups, Larkin didn't miss many public appearance opportunities.

"I've really enjoyed working with people," he said. "The people are what I'm going to miss the most."