Four people are in the running for two open Sun Valley City Council seats: Michelle Griffith, Franz Suhadolnik, Stephen Poindexter and incumbent Joan Lamb.
Griffith is the executive director of ARCH and is on the board of directors of the nexStage Theatre in Ketchum. She worked as a derivatives trader in the oil industry, living abroad with her husband for 20 years.
Suhadolnik had his own dental practice for 30 years. He served as an Army dental surgeon in South Korea and was an Army reservist. He also is a stockbroker and financial advisor.
Poindexter is a graduate of Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Fla. He has more than 15 years' experience in the hotel industry, and is currently a late-night front desk clerk at Sun Valley Resort.
Lamb was elected to the council in 2007. She previously served as chair of the Sun Valley Planning and Zoning Commission, and was a member of the 2005 Comprehensive Plan Update Committee. Professionally, she worked as a senior executive in investment banking and corporate finance.
Chuck Rumpf filed a declaration of candidacy last week, but he withdrew his name Monday.
In the race for mayor, Council President Dewayne Briscoe hopes to unseat incumbent Wayne Willich.
Briscoe was elected to the council in 2007 and elected by fellow council members as council president in 2009. He is a retired maxillofacial surgeon who served on the Washington State Board of Health.
"I feel my attributes for mayor are my extensive experience in government, professional and community organizations and ability to communicate and negotiate issues," Briscoe told the Idaho Mountain Express. "I am a macro manager who delegates responsibility and prefer a team approach to (the) decision process."
Willich was elected in 2007, unseating incumbent Jon Thorson. A retired Boeing executive, Willich said his professional career and time as mayor make him the better candidate for the position.
"I have a lot of background and experience running things," he said.
"I think Dewayne did a very credible job as a council member," he added. "He was pretty effective. The mayor (position) is a very different assignment. It is not a legislative assignment—it's an executive/administrative position. It's a whole different thing."
In the council election, the two candidates with the most votes will earn seats.
Election Day is Nov. 8.
Rebecca Meany: rmeany@mtexpress.com
