Former Sequim Mayor Ken Hays announced his resignation from the Sequim City Council on Dec. 14.
His resignation is effective immediately.
Hays was elected in 2008 and served as mayor from 2010-2013 before being reelected in Nov. 2015 in an unopposed race.
Hays sent an e-mail to current Sequim Mayor Candace Pratt and City Manager Charlie Bush, stating that, “it has become increasingly difficult for me to meet my obligations to the city in my role as a city councilor. The demands of my professional and family life are taking all of my time and I do not believe it is fair to continue serving the city and the community without the level of commitment expected and required of the job of a Sequim City Councilor.”
Bush said Hays’ preference was to announce the decision publicly on Dec. 15.
“I want to thank all of the other councilors I have served with,” Hays wrote. “Their dedication and thoughtfulness in their service is commendable and made my tenure rewarding and worthwhile.”
Hays also thanked city staff and Bush, and welcomed the newly elected city councilors.
Pratt said Hays was an inspiration to her and she enjoyed working with him, and that “his perspective and experience will be greatly missed by the community.”
Hays was honored for his time as mayor through the Association of Washington Cities. Some of his work on the city council includes helping organize the City’s Centennial Celebration, starting the Coffee with the Mayor program, working with several committees, helping organize and design the revitalization of the Guy Cole mini-convention center, and advocating for service contracts with the Boys & Girls Clubs and other non-profits with the city.
Hays’ take
Hays spoke to the Gazette on Thursday by phone and said the decision was in his mind for about a month but he took time to act on it.
With the Dec. 14 city council the last of the year for city councilors, Hays said he felt his obligations for this term were fulfilled too despite being elected in November unopposed.
He said the most significant event during his time on city council came when he and fellow councilors Laura Dubois, Erik Erichsen and Susan Lorenzen were first elected and in 2008 “helped built a better team” and bring in new leadership with now-retired City Manager Steve Burkett.
Hays said Burkett helped transform the organization so that all the department heads were working together better, which led to projects such as the Sequim Civic Center.
Hays said he’s also proud of his work on the Centennial Celebration, the Civic Center, Guy Cole Center, and working on establishing clearer city policies.
He mentioned his one regret is not being able to help the city transition from a passive parks and recreation system to a program-based system.
Despite stepping down, Hays reiterated he’s staying in Sequim but doing some work outside of the area and finding it difficult balancing work, family and city council.
“I wanted to devote time and energy to it, but I didn’t want to slide by (on the city council),” Hays said.
Hays said he intends to stay involved with the city in some function and he that he may consider running for city council again someday.
New councilor
Hays’ vacant Sequim City Council position will be filled by appointment, which expires on Dec. 31, 2017. Its salary is $250 per month and applicants must be registered voters of the City of Sequim, have a one-year continuous period of residence in the City of Sequim, and hold no other public office or employment under the city government.
Interviews for the vacant position will take place at a regularly scheduled or special city council meetings in early January. These meetings are held at the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St.
Applications are available at the Sequim Civic Center, by calling 681-3428 or online at www.sequimwa.gov.
The deadline for submitting a completed application to the City Clerk’s Office is 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.
