PITTSBURGH -- Mayor Tom Murphy will not run for re-election in 2005, ending his three-term reign as the city's leader.

Calling it the "best job anyone could have in America," Murphy made the announcement at a budget-signing ceremony Tuesday morning.

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Transcript: Full Text Of Murphy's Announcement
Video: Murphy Announces He Won't Run

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Slideshow

Slideshow:Memorable Moments From Murphy's Tenure

This year has been a rough one for Murphy, who battled a massive budget deficit by laying off hundreds of city employees and closing recreation centers and pools over the summer.

After filing for Pittsburgh to be declared financially distressed under state law, he pushed for a new payroll tax on employers, an increased $52 occupation tax on people who work in Pittsburgh, and a lower business privilege tax -- all of which were ultimately approved by state lawmakers.

"More than three years ago, I arrived at the conclusion that the tax structure of Pittsburgh was the greatest impediment to the future of this city, of any of the challenges we face," Murphy said. "I am enormously proud of how this city came together under very difficult circumstances to create the necessary momentum for change in Harrisburg," he said.

Murphy took office in January 1994. He battled for new stadiums, gained federal funding for the SouthSide Works project and is still fighting to bring Pittsburgh's financial crisis under control.

He made several unsuccessful attempts to revitalize Downtown, angering longtime business owners by threatening to use eminent domain to seize properties that stood in the way of his plans.

A new, multilevel Lazarus-Macy's department store, which Murphy envisioned as the anchor of the Fifth Avenue-Forbes Avenue corridor, closed down after only five years. The store never paid rent because it failed to reach an agreed-on level of annual sales.

Critics said Murphy's management style often rubbed people the wrong way and cost him support for many projects.

"It is the job of elected officials to assess honestly the challenges they confront and to be willing to put everything on the line to get the job done for the public," Murphy said Tuesday.

Murphy is the city's 55th leader. He will be the second-longest serving mayor behind David Lawrence, who spent 13 years in office.

Before his election as mayor, Murphy was a Peace Corps volunteer, a North Side community leader and a state representative for the 20th Legislative District.

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