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District 6 Metro Councilor Robert Liberty today announced his resignation from the Metro Council, the rulemaking body of Portland regional government Metro.

Liberty has served on the seven-member council since 2004. He’s an attorney with 25 years of experience in land planning issues, including time as executive director of the land-use group 1000 Friends of Oregon.

Liberty resigned two years early from his current four-year term for an opportunity at the University of Oregon. He will return to his undergraduate alma mater to take leadership of the university’s Sustainable Cities Initiative, a program that will bring policy makers and researchers together to help create more sustainable cities.

Liberty said his resignation was not spurred by Tom Hughes‘ victory over Liberty’s ally Bob Stacey in the Metro Council president’s race last November.

“The decision was not about wanting to leave Metro; it was about the exciting opportunity to be the executive director of a new program,” Liberty said. “The consequence of taking that position is leaving Metro.”

Liberty said he will miss the work he did with elected officials as well as colleagues like Tom Hughes.

“I’ve gotten to know (Hughes) and I think he’ll be good for the institution,” Liberty said.

The Metro Council now faces the task of choosing a new councilor by majority vote to fill the remainder of Liberty’s term.

“I just hope they pick someone who reflects the political views of the district,” Liberty said. “I am quite confident that I will be crossing paths with officials of this community in the years to come.”

Liberty will begin full time at the University of Oregon on Jan. 18.