JACKSON — Mark Seda has finally thrown the towel into the ring.

After announcing in August that he would step down from his position as Jackson’s mayor on Oct. 17 and then letting that date come and go, Seda resigned as mayor on Nov. 18.

His resignation was effective immediately.

Seda said in August that he was resigning as mayor in order to spend more time with his family. He and his wife have one child and are expecting their second child.

As was his right to do, Seda named municipal clerk Ann Marie Eden to serve as Jackson’s temporary mayor until the Township Council selects an interim mayor who will serve through November 2009.

Eden said, “I will fulfill the role of mayor until one is selected by the council.”

In November 2009, residents will elect an individual to serve as mayor through June 30, 2010, which is when Seda’s term expires.

In May 2010, residents will elect an individual to serve as mayor from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2014.

Seda became the first person to be directly elected as mayor when Jackson switched to a nonpartisan government in 2006. Under the previous Township Committee form of government, the mayor was selected each January by his fellow committee members to serve for one year.

Seda’s resignation means that a recall effort started by three residents is now moot.

Catherine Genovese, Joyce Cladek and Dennis Lafer began a process to recall Seda, but with the mayor now out of office there is no reason to proceed with that plan.

“The Committee to Recall Mayor Seda is relieved that he has finally brought this chapter in Jackson’s history to an end,” Lafer said. “The nonpartisan effort brought many volunteers to join this effort. The goal has always been to improve the governance of Jackson. Mayor Seda’s departure allows for the succession to proceed in what we hope is an orderly process.”

Township Council President Michael Kafton said, “I wish Mark Seda and his family well and at the same time, I’m glad that a decision was reached and now Jackson can move on. The council has been hard at work with issues we need to confront and we will continue working long and hard on behalf of all the residents.”

Kafton was one of three men who ran for mayor in May 2006. Seda won the election, defeating Kafton and Sean Giblin.

The township clerk said recently that 17 residents have submitted resumes expressing interest in the position of interim mayor.

Township Council members have not said what criteria they will use to select an interim mayor.