Scottish Liberal Democrat councillor Eileen McCartin has said Willie Rennie left his post as party leader "at the right time" after he announced his resignation this week.
After 10 years in the job, the North East Fife MSP confirmed he would be standing down as chief on Monday evening after leading the party through 11 election and referendum campaigns.
PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS: Live news as it happens
Councillor McCartin - who is the sole Lib Dem member in the Renfrewshire chamber - said she had admired Mr Rennie as a politician for many years but believed he wanted to go "before he got tired".
Mr Rennie began his political career in Paisley in 1990 when he ran in the Renfrew District Council by-election for Foxbar. He eventually lost out to SNP candidate Sandra White.
After the Lib Dems lost a seat in this year's Scottish Parliament election, Councillor McCartin said many within the party knew he had been considering quitting but didn't expect the announcement to be made this week.
"I am really sorry to see Willie go," said the Paisley Southwest representative.
"I have been fond of him as a politician for many years and he's just a thoroughly nice and generous man.
"I had an inkling this was going to happen at some point in the near future, we all knew it was in his mind but we didn't necessarily know it was going to happen this week.
"He’s still vibrant and enthusiastic, and I think he wanted to go before he got tired really and so now seemed like a good time.
"I think when you’ve been at that level for so many years, you need a break so I think it’s great for him and his family and we’ll move forward as a party, hopefully upwards.
"He’ll still be a hard-working MSP."
The party now holds just four seats at Holyrood after its worst-ever performance at the ballot box in May.
Its vote share fell to a new low in both the constituency and list vote and 50 deposits were lost out of the 73 areas the party contested.
The return means the Lib Dems is no longer recognised as a parliamentary party and its MSPs are now not guaranteed a chance to speak at First Minister's Questions.
However, Councillor McCartin said she does not think Mr Rennie is to blame for the failure.
She added: "I don’t think Willie was in any way at fault for what happened at the election. He worked his heart out.
"I just think our slogan of “Put Recovery First” was actually adopted by all the other parties, including the SNP, and we also lost the tactical vote.
"All the anti-SNP votes were split between Labour and the Tories and we ended up getting squeezed.
"I think any organisation just needs to be refreshed after a while. I think we will go onwards and upwards from here."
It is hoped a successor to Mr Rennie will be in post by the end of the summer recess, with Alex Cole-Hamilton tipped as the favourite to replace him as leader.
