Even though he hasn’t sat in a Sedona City Council chair for more than two years, Jon Thompson said he’s ready to step back in as if time has stood still.
Thompson was one of three finalists — along with Jeanette Smith and Robert Porter — who were interviewed by council in open session on Wednesday, March 24. He will serve the remaining year and a half left on Bill Chisholm’s term. Chisholm stepped down from council in February for family reasons.
After each candidate was asked 13 prepared questions and several follow-up — lasting an hour apiece — council went one by one and said who they were choosing and why. All said they were impressed by what each of the three could bring to council and encouraged Smith and Porter to run for council or seek a spot on a commission or citizen committees.
Councilman Tom Lamkin said because of the diversity he felt she could bring to the council, he chose Smith. The remaining members all chose Thompson.
“It feels really good,” Thompson said immediately after the decision. “It’s a combination of relief and it’s obviously a difficult process to go through — having been on this on both sides. Also, the excitement of jumping back in and knowing there are interesting things to work on.”
He said he appreciated the fact that council chose to deliberate on its decision in open session as opposed to going behind closed doors in executive session.
“I think it’s important for the public to participate in this since they would normally elect the person in that seat,” he said.
Because of his experience, Thompson, who served from 2014 to 2018, felt he was ready to hit the ground running. His first meeting back on the dais will be Tuesday, April 13.
“I think there are a couple of issues that I didn’t follow as closely as others,” he said. “But, I know how to get that information, so I don’t see any slips whatsoever. I will be prepared. If needed, I will go back and review meeting videos, make a call or two to people for clarification or whatever I need.”
When Thompson ran for office in 2014 and when he was a finalist to fill the vacancy of Janice Hudson last year, Thompson said in each instance — including this time — he looked at who else may be running when making his decision whether or not to throw his hat in the ring.
“I really do care, more than anything, that the council is as strong in the areas that are important as possible,” he said. “When I feel like my participation could help that’s when I’ve run. When I didn’t run for re-election, it was because I knew Janice Hudson and Bill Chisholm and I knew they’d be terrific. They had good support and a good chance to win. And, I could focus on other things and let them do that.”
