Sun Valley City Councilwoman Ann Agnew plans to resign June 30, Mayor Jon Thorson announced Tuesday.
"Councilperson Agnew has been a leader for the city of Sun Valley for the past five plus years," Thorson said in a written statement May 8. "Her professionalism, commitment to fairness and the highest ethical standards are skills and personal characteristics which today help guide the decisions of the City Council and define effective and responsive public service."
Agnew cited changes in personal circumstances over the past year for her decision. She announced her resignation in a letter to Thorson.
"I am now more of a part-time than full-time Sun Valley resident, and, as such, I do not feel I can continue to do my job as my personal standards require," Agnew stated.
"I want to express, on behalf of the City Council and Sun Valley community, our deep appreciation for her service," Thorson said. "It is with regret that I will ask the City Council to accept her resignation."
The council is expected to formally accept Agnew's resignation at its June 21 meeting. Thorson said he plans to ask the council to appoint Dave Chase to fill Agnew's position during its first meeting in July.
Chase is a co-owner of SunValleyOnline, an Internet news and blog site based in Hailey. He also was recently appointed to the Ketchum Community Development Corporation.
Agnew, who is in Europe on vacation, was unavailable for further comment. However, she stated she plans to continue to stay active in Sun Valley by remaining an involved citizen.
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First elected in 2002, Agnew has played a pivotal role in the completion of the city's comprehensive plan update, master plan development requirements, general property tax support for workforce housing, new workforce housing requirements and energy and water conservation improvements at City Hall. In addition, Agnew "took a lead role with the City Council in progressively reviewing and approving the Sun Valley Company's new Gun Club Master Plan and golf course expansion," Thorson said.
Chase also is a partner with Altus Alliance, a venture-consulting firm based in Seattle that specializes in the technology industry. He volunteers as a strategic advisor to Climate Solutions, a non-partisan, economic development nonprofit focused on energy. Chase has also worked in marketing and executive roles for Microsoft.
"Some of the discipline you learn in the business environment can be useful in the City Council," Chase said. "City government, quite frankly, is a new area for me ... but I feel I can bring a fresh outlook."
Ketchum and Sun Valley, in many ways, work in conjunction with one another on community planning and development—a fact that could put Chase in a unique position to act as a de facto liaison between the two municipalities.
"The two (cities) are connected," Chase said. "I don't know how much Ketchum depends on Sun Valley, but Sun Valley definitely relies on Ketchum for a lot."
Several members of the Sun Valley City Council have referred to Ketchum in open meeting as "our downtown."
Chase is also in the unique position of being an owner of a media outlet and a public representative.
"I appreciate that concern (that the roles could pose a potential conflict of interest)...and I will have to wear two hats," Chase said. "As a city official, it is essential they communicate with all media on an equal basis. I will make myself available."
Agnew has two years remaining on her term.
However, if he's appointed, Chase will serve only until November, when the next municipal election occurs. If he seeks election to the council, he would have to run as an at-large candidate in the Nov. 6 election.
Under Sun Valley's open-seat election format, candidates who receive the most votes gain the seats up for consideration. The at-large format is designed in part to invite debate among all candidates about the actions of the current council, including the voting records of incumbents.
Ann Agnew
