"It's become political," he said.

Gary's mayor has been driven around town in a taxpayer-funded Hummer H3 for nearly five years, ever since he took office. Few of his decisions have drawn quite as much public ire, but Clay has defended it with equal passion.

"I've got one of the cheapest SUVs on the highway," Clay said in 2009, "and it's like the world is coming to an end."

Now, with the primary election just months away, he said he'll soon start using one of more than 100 fuel-efficient cars purchased by the city with a $3 million federal stimulus grant last year.

Most of those new cars are Ford Crown Victorias used by the Gary Police Department, but Gary also purchased 12 hybrid Ford Escapes.

"I will be giving the Hummer up," Clay said. "That's the bottom line."

The fate of Clay's Hummer isn't clear. He said Friday morning he planned to give it up when the lease ends.

But Gary's finance department said the city is leasing the car with an option to purchase. With one final payment on Dec. 24, the vehicle will be the property of Gary's taxpayers.

A city spokeswoman said in January 2009 the car was being purchased for $29,900. The newer car replaced a 2006 Hummer H3 the taxpayers leased for $5,000 a year.

Clay said he'll probably sell the 2009 Hummer back to the dealership from which it was purchased. The dealer is willing to buy the car back for market value, Clay said. If that falls through, the car could remain in Gary's fleet.

The mayor took lots of heat for his choice of transportation, but he's insisted it was an economical choice when compared to the 2003 Ford Expedition used by former Mayor Scott King.