Farmington city councilor Sean Sharer resigns

Farmington voters went to the polls just last month to register their preferences for candidates in a handful of municipal races, but the City Council already has another vacancy, as its District 2 representative resigned on Dec. 15.

Sean Sharer, who was elected to the council in 2016 and re-elected in 2021, announced in a statement issued Friday he was stepping down from his position, effective immediately. Sharer said his family is relocating to a remodeled residence outside the District 2 boundaries, rendering him ineligible to continue serving on the council from that district under state law.

Sharer’s replacement will be appointed by Mayor Nate Duckett at an upcoming council meeting. Sharer said Friday afternoon the mayor had asked him to provide him with the names of some possible replacements to finish his term, which expires in 2025.

“At the moment, I don’t (have anyone in mind),” he said, though he indicated he would be giving the mayor’s request some thought and trying to come up with a list.

Duckett said Friday he appreciated Sharer’s service to his constituents, adding that the council had done a lot of good work during his tenure in office. But he said he understood Sharer’s need to prioritize his family.

“I wish him the best, and I know he’ll continue leading from within the community,” Duckett said.

The mayor said Sharer’s resignation took him by surprise, and he had not yet developed a list of any possible replacements.

“We want to take a fresh look at the folks over there (in District 2),” he said.

Duckett said he would initiate an application process for anyone interested in the position. He said he was looking for applicants who are service minded, who have a positive outlook for the community and appreciate the direction the current City Council has been taking.

The mayor said he anticipated it would be approximately 30 days before he is ready to nominate a replacement for Sharer, at which point he will ask the City Council to approve his nominee. He said that would give him time to vet and carefully consider any candidates who emerge for the position.

Sharer reflects on his tenure

Sharer said he enjoyed his time on the City Council and will miss serving.

“It was a great experience,” he said. “I genuinely love all my colleagues and the mayor. I think we accomplished some really good things for the city. I was really hoping to serve out my last term, but when it’s time to move, it’s time to move.”

He said his family had been remodeling its new house for several years, and the work was completed sooner than he anticipated. That gave them the opportunity to spend the holidays in their new home, an opportunity he said he couldn’t ignore.

But he described his departure from city government as bittersweet.

“It was emotional,” he said of submitting his letter of resignation to the mayor. “Nate and I have known each other for a really long time.”

Sharer noted the city endured some tough years financially during his tenure, but he believes Farmington has gotten through the worst and faces a bright future.

“I think the city’s on a great path,” he said. “And I’m proud of my time there.”

Sharer noted that he is not done with public service, explaining that he serves as the chairman of the San Juan County Republican Party and that he intends to become more involved in the county’s right-to-life organization.

But as of Friday, Sharer said he was enjoying his newfound freedom as a private citizen unbeholden to his constituents for the first time in seven years.

“Tonight, we’re going to have homemade pizza and watch some movies and just be a family,” he said.

The Farmington City Council last experienced an unexpected vacancy in the summer of 2015 when Councilor Dan Darnell resigned in the middle of his term to move to Rio Rancho. Then-Mayor Tommy Roberts appointed Linda Rodgers to finish the remainder of Darnell’s District 1 term from a pool of nine applicants. Rodgers was elected to a full term in 2016 and re-elected in 2021.

Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e.

This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: Sean Sharer steps down as city councilor after moving outside district