Saying that it was a difficult decision to make, Joe Vernier announced his immediate resignation from the Sedona City Council.

While his announcement came the afternoon of Tuesday, Feb. 20, his resignation was effective the day before.

“It is with deep regret and disappointment that I resign,” Vernier said in a release. “For personal reasons, I will be relocating to Phoenix and will not be able to complete my term. I would like to thank the council and city staff for everyone’s contributions and work in making Sedona a world-class resort destination and a great place to live and work.

“I will miss the beauty of this area along with the friends and acquaintances my wife and I have made during our time here. I also want to thank the Sedona voters for their confidence and support in electing me to this office and wish that I could have fulfilled my term.”

The city is now accepting applications to fill his vacant seat. The person appointed will fill Vernier’s vacancy until November. The winner of those running for his seat will serve a two-year term, ending in 2020, since Vernier was elected to office in November 2016.

With his departure this will mean five positions on the SOCSD council — mayor and four council seats — will be up for grabs in November.

“I can say that I have enjoyed working with Joe and am very sorry he will be moving, but sometimes circumstances change and difficult choices have to be made,” Mayor Sandy Moriarty said. “Of course it would be good to have someone with experience as the budget is coming up. We’ll just have to wait and see who applies and how the interviews go.”

Like Moriarty, Vice Mayor John Martinez was sad to hear the news of Vernier’s decision.

“I am wishing all the luck for Joe and his family’s future and I know that he has established a high standard for future candidates that wish to fill his position,” Martinez said. “He was a consummate individual that was well prepared for council meetings, was not swayed by special interest groups and knew the complexities of how the city deals with all the issues to meet the varying needs for the citizens of Sedona and its visitors. I will miss his input as a fellow a councilor and the knowledge he possessed as a past police chief for the city of Sedona.”

Vernier previously served as Sedona’s police chief for 10 years before retiring in January 2010.

Qualifications for seeking appointment to council are:

• Must be a qualified elector: At least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a registered voter.
• Must be able to speak, write and read English.
• Must reside within the Sedona city limits for one year preceding the appointment.
• A person convicted of a felony cannot serve as a council member until his or her civil rights have been restored.

Applications are available at the City Clerk’s Office at Sedona City Hall, 102 Roadrunner Drive. The deadline to submit applications is March 7 by 5 p.m. in the City Clerk’s Office.

For additional information contact the City Clerk’s office at 282-3113 or email SIrvine@SedonaAZ.gov.

Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795 ext. 122 or by email at reland@larsonnewspapers.com