Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Hailey mayor won?t seek re-election

Susan McBryant opts to leave on ?high note?


By JON DUVAL
Express Staff Writer

Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant says she will not seek re-election in November. Photo by David N. Seelig

Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant announced Tuesday, July 24, that she won't seek re-election in November. She said she hopes this early decision will induce a number of good candidates to step forward and run for the position.

"This didn't come quickly or easily," McBryant said of her choice to finish her 15-year tenure in public office, five as mayor. "I'm not burned out at all, but think it's time to turn it over."

McBryant began her duties as mayor under the controversial circumstances left behind by her predecessor, Al Lindley, who resigned in the beginning of November 2002, only to attempt to withdraw his resignation 10 days later. Lindley, who left under a cloud of allegations ranging from verbal sexual harassment to signing a city contract without seeking proper approval from the City Council, had his request to return to office denied by council members, who instead voted then-Council President McBryant to be interim mayor.

"It was a tremendous time of anxiety," McBryant said. "And it was ugly when I ran against Lindley in 2003."

McBryant's difficulties with Lindley didn't end with her successful campaign that led to her current four-year term. In spring 2006, Lindley brought an initiative before voters that would result in Hailey being run by a city manager. Although residents soundly rejected the proposal, McBryant said these dealings with Lindley were some of the most difficult times during her tenure in the mayor's office.

"It's really happy now, but it hasn't been smooth all the way along," she said.

McBryant said one of the reasons for her decision not to run was based on her belief that she accomplished the two goals she set for herself when she was elected in 2003, which were to provide stability for the city and leadership for the council and staff.

"We were not a strong city," McBryant said. "Now I look at the list of things that have been done over the last year and am overwhelmed."

Included in that list was the receipt of land on River Street from the developers of the Sweetwater project in southern Hailey. McBryant said the deal took hours of discussion with staff, council and the developers, all of whom worked together for a positive result for the city.

"I think I've done my job well," McBryant said. "There's nothing wrong with going out on a high note."

McBryant said that by removing herself from this fall's race, the upcoming elections should be exciting.

"Potential candidates aren't as likely to run when there's a strong incumbent," she said.

Until her final day in office arrives in January 2008, McBryant said she will continue to be an effective mayor and run the city with the same style she always has. Afterward, she said she will focus on her job as president and owner of Sun Country Management, a Ketchum-based property management company. And she already has plenty of plans for the added free time.

"I came to endurance sports later in life and will relish the chance to do more," said McBryant, who will take a 10-day vacation next month to mountain bike from Telluride, Colo., to Moab, Utah.

Hailey City Clerk Heather Dawson, who has worked with five different mayors since she began working for the city in 1990, said she believes McBryant could likely re-emerge into the field of politics at some point in the future.

"She's a strong mayor and at the top of her game right now," Dawson said. "I am surprised that she's leaving."




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