TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — Treasure Island Mayor Tyler Payne has announced his resignation in an announcement on Monday.
In a post on Facebook, Payne said the decision was based on what was best for himself and his family. He also acknowledged the difficulty to make the decision in the midst of recovery efforts following hurricanes Helene and Milton.
"As we recover from these storms, it is going to be critical for the Mayor to dedicate a significant amount of time to lead our community through the process," Payne said in the Facebook post. "At this point in my professional and personal life, I unfortunately do not have the necessary bandwidth to fulfill that need."
Payne also spoke on his family-ran business, saying that the company is in a "critical growth phase" and will need his full attention.
The mayor also announced he and his husband are relocating off the island, but says they are not moving far and plan to remain active within the Treasure Island community.
"Just like the majority of our residents, our home and my parents’ home (my childhood home) both on Paradise Island were completely flooded and damaged beyond repair," he said. "While my parents will rebuild and we will fortunately continue to have those roots in Treasure Island, my husband and I cannot afford to do the same. That being said, I completely empathize with the difficult decisions that are facing so many of our residents."
In the final statement in the post, Payne says he believes Vice Mayor John Doctor will fulfill the role of mayor and serve Treasure Island with "the highest level of passion and dedication."
Payne served as Mayor for over three years after being elected in March 2021. Prior to that, he served as District 2 City Commissioner.