Freeport’s mayor initially took office after applying to fill the previous mayor’s unexpired term, and now, Mayor Zachary Gent says he plans to exit the role at the end of the year, leaving his term incomplete.

Freeport borough manager Zachary Filous said Gent’s exit announcement Wednesday, Oct. 9, was not an official resignation, but more of a heads up to the borough council, which will have to appoint a new mayor should Gent officially resign.

Gent could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but Filous said Gent had earned another term as mayor after being elected to the role in 2023. Filous also said he is unsure of when Gent became mayor, but Gent has been the administrator for the Freeport Borough Virtual Mayor’s Office Facebook page since Oct. 11, 2022.

Prior to being appointed mayor, Gent served on borough council, Filous said.

According to Filous, Gent said the reason for his exit is because he expects to travel more frequently for his full-time job, leaving less time to fulfill his duties as the borough’s mayor. Filous said Gent’s exact exit date is not official either.

“It’s unfortunate that he can’t continue in the capacity he would like to,” Filous said of Gent.

Freeport has six council members, who will have to appoint a new mayor to fill Gent’s term should he officially resign at the end of the year.