Hayden, Idaho is looking for a new mayor and the city council is advertising for candidates.
Steve Griffitts resigned as mayor in February because of a dispute with two council members. Defying advice from the city attorney, they refused to recuse themselves on a land use issue on which they had taken public positions as private citizens. Griffitts said that could expose the city to legal liabilities and he felt he could no longer serve.
He left about halfway through his four-year term. Now the city is looking for someone to occupy the office until January 2024, after the next city election.
City Clerk Abbi Sanchez says the city council decided not to appoint a current council member to serve as mayor. The city is now asking people who are interested in the job to apply. The deadline is April 25. Applicants must be 18 or older, U.S. citizens, Hayden residents for at least the last month and registered to vote. Sanchez says current council members may apply.
Sanchez says the process for vetting and interviewing applicants hasn’t yet been decided.
The position is considered part-time, but the mayor is the chief administrative official with an extensive list of responsibilities. That includes working with the city administrator to keep Hayden running from day to day.
