By Pepper Fisher
SEQUIM – Sequim City Councilor and former Mayor Tom Ferrell announced that he is resigning his position on the council, effective March 31.
Ferrell announced his resignation at last week’s council meeting in this way:
“Just to let everybody know, last year there was a lot of times when I was on travel for business and I held off taking on more of a workload, ran for re-election. And I think I was unrealistic. My capacity is shrinking drastically in terms of my business overseas. So, my last day will be March 31st. During the time between now and then, whatever resources you can use from me, talk to me, tap my brain, let me know. Okay? It’s been a pleasure.”
Ferrell was elected to the council in November of 2019 and took office in January 2020. He served as mayor in 2022 through 2023. His tenure with the city saw several tumultuous years, and included navigating the pandemic, the public outcry over the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s effort to build the MAT clinic, and the council’s firing of City Manager Charlie Bush and subsequent hiring of Matt Huish.
As Deputy Mayor for two years, Ferrell was very often on the losing end of 4-3 policy votes against what can certainly be described as a voting bloc. Three members of that bloc lost their elections in November of 2021, bringing new faces to the council. At the time Ferrell said he hoped, as the new mayor, he would see an easing of the contentiousness on the council going forward.
Ferrell has a consulting business where he teaches strategic leadership skills, and he says he needs more personal time to develop the enterprise overseas. That said, he was frank about another reason for leaving.
“The other reason I want to move on is, I’m tired. Yeah. I mean I’m kind of tired of politics and, as you know, I came into this game with two years of playing politics with the previous crew. And I think that we had two solid years when I was mayor, and I’m happy with the job we all did, the whole council did, going forward. I’m not sure I can help the council too much. I think it’s time for me to move on with other parts of my interests.”
The Sequim City Council has seen a lot of resignations in recent years, including Dennis Smith, Jennifer States and Troy Tenneson, all in 2021 and 2022.
The process of replacing a councilor, which by law is supposed to happen within 90 days of member’s last day in office, has consistently been to open an application period, interview candidates at a public meeting, and oftentimes appoint the new member in the same meeting. With nearly two years remaining in Ferrell’s term, Council can decide to let their selection serve the full term, or require them to run for election in this coming November’s general election.