Mr Stewart had sat on the council since 1996 and said several challenges faced the community.
“The planning process and development outcomes with the State Government’s Joint Development Assessment Panels (JDAP) have left residential communities isolated and with an overwhelming sense of hopelessness,” he said.
Mr Stewart said he believed allowing electors to vote for the mayor, rather than councillors, was a better system.
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READ NOW“I’ve consistently championed, pursued and presented motions for the mayor to be elected by the people,” he said.
“I think that’s a far more democratic process.
“If we elected the mayor directly, it would create more representation from the community, as opposed to representation within the council.”
Mr Stewart said the Local Government Act was in need of reform to ensure local authorities were better placed to determine all senior positions, beyond that of the chief executive.
Mr Stewart said he appreciated the opportunity to represent the community over the past 20 years.
“I acknowledge the many community volunteers who give countless hours of support, either through sporting clubs, support groups, ratepayer bodies and environmental organisations, as these individuals make such a positive contribution to the community,” he said.
Mr Stewart said he was proud of the many projects he had worked on, from local footpaths to public infrastructure upgrades at Scarborough Beach.
Mr Stewart thanked his wife Penny for supporting him as a councillor over the years.
“We both approached public life as a team with a clear focus on service, being accessible and open, supporting those groups that are genuinely committed to the community,” he said.
Mr Stewart said it was too early to say if he would run for council at the next election but he would continue his work as a teacher.
Stirling Mayor Giovanni Italiano thanked Mr Stewart for his work with the council over many years.
“I do thank him for all that he’s done for the City of Stirling and the community; he’s done a good job,” Cr Italiano said.