GUILDERLAND — Supervisor Kenneth Runion, whose eighth two-year term would have been up Jan. 1, at which point he planned to retire, has decided to bow out a month early.

Supervisor-elect Peter Barber will be appointed to the role on Dec. 1. Both are Democrats.

“I decided that I wanted to retire early and I figured I’d give Peter a chance to get acclimated before January when he has to do all the appointments and the town organization,” Runion told The Enterprise this week.

He was reached on his cell phone out of state, but declined to say which state he had moved to.

Runion said he had originally hoped to retire in August, when he turned 62, but did not want to give either candidate — Barber or Brian Forte — an advantage in the November elections.

Barber said Runion had sold his house in Altamont and had been unable to find another suitable home in the area, so had gone to Florida with his family a bit earlier than scheduled.

“I made my plans clear back in September or October that I planned to retire around Thanksgiving,” said Runion. “I want to spend time with my family and there’s no better time to do that than at the holidays.”

He said he met with Barber and the town’s department heads several times so Barber could familiarize himself with the various departments, employees, committees, and boards, as well as learn about the budget.

Runion said that, in 2000, when he was first elected supervisor, it was a tough transition.

“There’s very little preparation,” he said.

“I met with the supervisor to discuss any pressing matters that may be coming up in the early part of the year,” said Barber. “The end of the year always brings transition.”

Runion said he thought it would give Barber an advantage to have a month in the “working setting” before facing the organizational meeting, rather than as someone just coming into office.

“After 30 years of being in public office, it’s just time for me to retire,” Runion said. “My family and I want some privacy at this time.”