SEQUIM — Ken Hays has resigned his seat on the City Council.
He resigned, effective immediately, Monday via a letter to Mayor Candace Pratt and City Manager Charlie Bush.
The city did not announce Hays’ departure until Tuesday afternoon.
Hays has served on the City Council since 2008 and served as the mayor from 2010 through 2013. He was re-elected to a new four-year term in 2015.
In the private sector, Hays has owned his own architecture firm in Sequim since 1988.
“It has become increasingly difficult for me to meet my obligations to the city in my role as a city councilor,” Hays stated in his resignation letter.
“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.”
Hays went on to “thank all of the other councilors I have served with. Their dedication and thoughtfulness in their service is commendable and made my tenure rewarding and worthwhile.”
He also expressed gratitude to the city staff and welcomed the new council members who will take their seats at the Jan. 11 regular meeting.
In response to Hays’ letter, Sequim Mayor Candace Pratt said Hays “has been an inspiration to me, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him on the City Council.”
Additionally, “Ken served as mayor during the city’s centennial celebration and was actively involved in every event,” Pratt said.
“He started the Coffee with the Mayor program in Sequim and represented the city on several regional committees. His perspective and experience will be greatly missed by the community.”
City Manager Charlie Bush said he has “really enjoyed working with Ken over the past few months” and that city staff is “very appreciative of his service to the city and the entire Sequim-Dungeness Valley community. We wish him all the best.”
The vacant council position will be filled by appointment.
The term will expire Dec. 31, 2017.
The salary for this position is $250 per month.
Applicants must be registered voters of the city, have a one-year continuous period of residence in the city and hold no other public office or employment under the city government.Interviews for the vacant position will take place during two regularly scheduled or special City Council meetings in early January. These meetings are held at the Civic Center, located at 152 W. Cedar St.
Applications and information about the position’s criteria are available at the Civic Center, by calling 360-681-3428 or online at www.sequimwa.gov.
The deadline for submitting a completed application to the City Clerk’s Office is 9 a.m. Jan. 4.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
