Saying he's unable to balance family and work commitments with public service, first-term City Councilman Brent E. York has resigned from office with nearly 10 months remaining on his term.
York, who was elected to office in 1989, submitted his resignation to the city this week. City officials now have 30 days to appoint a new council member to serve the remainder of York's term and are advertising for a replacement.The 32-year-old York, who is the general manager of Fuel America in Payson, has served on the council since January 1990 and on a variety of city departments as a councilman. He was the city's current mayor pro tempore as well.
With work and family commitments adding to the pressures of office, York said he felt he could no longer continue to serve as councilman.
"Over the past year, it's been very difficult to juggle my work, my city responsibilities and my family and have it all come out equally," he said. "I felt it probably wasn't in my best interest to continue and figured it was the best time to offer my resignation."
Despite his resignation, York said he has no ill feelings toward any city officials or employee.
"There has been some speculation that I was leaving office on a negative note," he said. "It certainly wasn't that. In fact, I'll always remember my experiences (in office) as some of the best and worst times I've ever had."
During his council term, the city installed a pressurized irrigation system but also had to deal with a severe budget crisis in which several city departments were forced to lay off employees and make across-the-board budget cuts - two policy areas York predicted would come to the forefront before he even took office.
Mayor Richard Harmer, who has served with York all three years, said he understands York's situation and realizes how hard the decision was to make.
"He's a good man," Harmer said. "I have to admire him. He's put his family first, his job second and the city third, and that's really the way it should be."
York will still serve the city on its economic development board. He said what makes his leaving office even harder is that fact that there was less than a year remaining on his term, which will be up for election in the fall.
"That was the most difficult part, because I did have such a short time left," he said. "But look at it this way, for somebody interested in serving the city, this is a good opportunity for them to get in there and get some good experience and maybe run for the seat again."
However, he doesn't rule out the idea of running for public office in the future. "At some point in my life, when my family is raised and other priorities in my life have been taken care of, I'd love to serve again."