Vice Mayor Summer Stockton resigns
Town council vice mayor Summer Stockton announced her resignation at the Monday, Nov. 7, town council meeting.
Stockton’s seat would have been up for re-election in March 2017.
“I always did what I thought was best for our town and continuously worked hard to preserve our island and its charm,” Stockton said at the meeting and in an email to the council.
.Stockton said both her career and the career of her wife, Sheena Stockton, have advanced to the point that she cannot dedicate enough time to her role on the council.
“No one could ever question your passion or dedication to this town,” Council Member Anita Cereceda said.
Per the town charter, the council must select a replacement for Stockton, who said her resignation would take effect November 30.
However, council members spent time discussing how much time was needed to post the position to the public and receive resumes from potential candidates.
Mayor Dennis Boback favored a date sooner rather than later, saying he would like to have someone appointed at the council’s next meeting Monday, Nov. 21, so that person could get up to speed with the many issues the town is currently handling.
However, town attorney Dawn Lehnert said such a move would be “odd.”
“Summer has indicated her resignation would be on the 30th,” she said. “Her resignation hasn’t become effective yet (on Nov. 21).”
Stockton would still technically be a voting member of the board during the Nov. 21 meeting, which would make her obligated to vote on the appointment of a new member, which would then conflict with the town charter, Lehnert said.
“No one resigns and gets to choose their replacement. No one,” Cereceda said.
Council decided to review submitted resumes and vote in a new member at the Dec. 5 meeting.