Richard Lemack, who narrowly lost the Democratic sheriff's primary, announced he is resigning as Hollywood's assistant city manager to ``pursue other challenges.''

Lemack said in an interview that he had not applied for any jobs and had received no offers. A former assistant chief in the Hollywood police department, Lemack said he would consider applying for a job as a city manager or police chief if one becomes available, among other possibilities in South Florida.

''I am open to anything,'' Lemack said.

Lemack announced his decision to leave about a month after he lost a close, five-way Broward Democratic primary to Scott Israel, former police chief of North Bay Village. In his Sept. 26 resignation letter to City Manager Cameron Benson, Lemack added that the timing of his resignation could give the city more options in carrying out staff cuts mandated in the budget approved last month by the City Commission.

The city's $330 million budget, approved Sept. 15, includes laying off six city employees.

Next week, city commissioners are scheduled to vote on a contract that would privatize trash collections, a proposal that would save an estimated $3.5 million but also take 51 full-time employees and 17 vacant positions off the city payroll.

''The time has come for me to pursue other challenges, which I have discovered through my recent experiences,'' Lemack wrote in his resignation letter last week. ``My departure at this time is mutually beneficial as it affords you additional flexibility in addressing fiscal and operational demands.''

Lemack was well known among Hollywood insiders for years, but the countywide campaign raised his profile among Democratic activists and power brokers.

Lemack joined the city as a police officer in 1981, and he became assistant city manager in 2002. His resignation is effective Oct. 31.

Lemack, 49, currently gets a pension for his years with the police department, and will get a second, smaller pension for his City Hall job.

Benson told commissioners in a memo earlier this week that he planned to begin looking for a replacement assistant manager immediately.

Vice Mayor Dick Blattner said the countywide sheriff's campaign probably showed Lemack some of the other job opportunities available outside the city.

''Cameron's not going anywhere soon,'' Blattner said. ``[Lemack's] kind of bottled up in Hollywood.''

Lemack has ties to both candidates for sheriff in the Nov. 4 general election -- Israel and incumbent Republican Al Lamberti. Lemack said he had not talked with either of them about joining BSO. Lemack has endorsed Israel.

Lemack worked for Lamberti when Lamberti served as Hollywood's interim police chief in the late 1990s. Lemack said he had a good working relationship with Lamberti, who promoted Lemack during his tenure.

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