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After eight years of putting 20- to 30-hour work weeks into a "part-time" position, College Park Mayor Stephen Brayman will preside over the City Council for the final time Tuesday night.

"Everybody asks me, ‘What are you going to do with all your time?'" said Brayman, who works full-time as the Charles County government's director of human resources. "I don't have any idea."

Brayman announced in May that he would not seek a fifth term as mayor and will be replaced by friend and former City Councilman Andrew Fellows, who will be sworn in Tuesday. Brayman — whose self-described "strong-willed" approach helped bring the city an improved police presence, more student housing and a new parking garage — said he will remember his time in office fondly.

"Outside of my family and current day job, it's the most fun I've had," he said.

Brayman was first elected mayor in 2001, the first of four uncontested victories. He counts the city's improved relationship with state officials, other municipalities and the University of Maryland, College Park, among his proudest accomplishments and said he's been helped by numerous council members and city employees, including City Manager Joe Nagro.

"It's not sole leadership ... we have a fabulous city staff," Brayman said. "I like to say that the majority of the things that I'm working on are actually other people's ideas."

County Councilman Eric C. Olson (D-Dist. 3) of College Park served on the City Council from 1997 to 2006, including four years alongside Brayman as the city's District 3 council members from 1997 to 2001. He said Brayman was the driving force behind many city improvements as mayor, including the contract police force and parking garage.

"He is tenacious," Olson said. "He's known both in the city and throughout the state as someone who really loves his community and is willing to fight for it."

While Brayman's tenacity has been an asset, it has also earned him some enemies. He remains at odds with many of the city's landlords — whom he's often called "greedy" — who have sued the city over its rent stabilization ordinance, which limits the rent they can collect on residential homes. The ordinance, they've argued, provides an unfair advantage for student housing complexes.

During council sessions, Brayman and Councilman Jack Perry (Dist. 2) bickered on a weekly basis and some residents and council members have said he was domineering and tended to talk over people with whom he disagreed.

"He was not open-minded," said Councilwoman Mary Cook (Dist. 4), who often sparred with Brayman during council meetings. "He expected people to fall in line with his thinking. Obviously, I wasn't ready to do that."

In the weeks before the Nov. 3 city election, Brayman actively campaigned against District 4 incumbents Cook and Karen Hampton, both of whom opposed him on issues including the city budget and rent stabilization. The two were defeated on Election Day by challengers Marcus Afzali and Denise Mitchell.

"There's a minority — but a vocal minority — of anti-progress residents," Brayman said. "I think the election showed that the majority is in tune with where the past several councils have set the city."

The council has generally voted in agreement with many of Brayman's stances, and he is on generally positive terms with at least half of the eight current members, including Councilman Patrick Wojahn (Dist. 1).

"His style was very forthright," Wojahn said. "He works hard. He did a lot for the city."

Brayman will likely serve on the county's Charter Review Commission this spring and said he plans to remain involved in county or state government. He added that he might serve on one of the city's boards or committees and hopes the city will continue fighting for state funding of improvements to Route 1, which has been difficult to secure.

He also wants to spend more time with his wife, Marie, and daughters Samantha, 14, and Skylar, 5. Brayman said he hopes to re-connect with Samantha and continue seeking treatment for Skylar, who has Rett Syndrome, a developmental disorder that has robbed her of much of her verbal and motor function.

"I'm really going to miss [being mayor]," Brayman said. "It's high time that I focus at home for a while."