Mayor Don Atchison is now the longest-serving mayor in Saskatoon’s history.

He hit the milestone Tuesday night.

“I’ve never really thought about it,” the 63-year-old Atchison told CTV News from his City Hall office, just hours before he would officially break the record.

“Looking back doesn’t really do a whole bunch for you. A lot of people like to think of the past accomplishments, but I think we’ve got to keep focused on today and looking to the future.”

Atchison, who was born and raised in Saskatoon, was elected to city council in 1994 before winning the mayor’s job in 2003. He’s currently serving his fourth term in the mayor’s seat, and on Tuesday night, he began his 13th year at the helm.

“I just want to thank all of the citizens in Saskatoon over the years for their support,” he said.

Atchison has overseen projects like River Landing’s revitalization, the Circle Drive South Bridge, the Shaw Centre and the new police headquarters since taking office, but he’s quick to credit past and current councillors for the city’s boom.

“I admire those councillors for standing up, and picking up the challenge, and getting us to the point where we are today,” he said.

Long-time councillor Pat Lorje, who’s sat on city council under three mayors, said Atchison has been re-elected so many times because he cares deeply about others.

“He brings compassion, common sense and decency to the table, and I think Saskatoon is well served by our current mayor,” she said.

Atchison, of course, hasn’t been free of criticism since joining Saskatoon’s political ranks.

He’s taken heavy flack over the last few years for never attending a Pride parade, for Saskatoon’s increasing property taxes and for the condition of city roads. He was blasted last year for the Saskatoon Transit lockout. He earned the title of Canada’s craziest mayor early in his first term — mostly because of a short-lived rule requiring anyone who visited him at City Hall to dress in semi-formal wear — and he was criticized as a councillor for suggesting the city install a dome over its downtown.

Atchison told CTV News his time at the hockey rink — he’s a former Saskatoon Blades goaltender and hockey referee — and in his family’s clothing shop readied him for the criticism and complaints.

He’s not planning to slow down anytime soon, he said. He announced last year he’ll run in the 2016 civic election and seek a fifth term as mayor.

--- based on a report by CTV Saskatoon's Angelina Irinici