Following three terms as Atascadero’s popularly elected mayor, Tom O’Malley will step down, and he is endorsing Councilwoman Heather Moreno for the job.

Moreno, who has served on the council since 2012, is running for mayor. She has already garnered the endorsements of the other four Atascadero council members, as well as County Supervisor Debbie Arnold.

O’Malley plans to retire after a 16-year tenure on the Atascadero council, of which he will have spent the last six years as mayor.

After moving to Atascadero in 2004, Moreno, a certified public accountant, joined the city’s planning commission in 2008 and served a two-year stint. Moreno was appointed to the city council in 2012 and was elected as a councilwoman in 2014.

Moreno’s campaign  platform includes a strong local economy, fiscal responsibility and protecting local control. Noting that federal regulations often do not make sense for Atascadero, Moreno advocates for maintaining local control on policy matters, such as water supply management.

Previously an accountant for KPMG, Moreno now owns a health and wellness consulting firm. In 2013, she obtained a master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.

It is unclear if Moreno currently faces any challengers in the Atascadero mayoral race. The election will take place in November 2018.