Northwest Arkansas Times reports that incumbent mayor's policy adviser resigns

 
On eve of runoff, Coody adviser takes Texas job
BY DUSTIN TRACY Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/71461

One day before the runoff election, Susan Thomas, public information and policy adviser in the Fayetteville mayor’s office, submitted her letter of resignation effective Dec. 12.
She will become the executive director for the Texoma Council of Governments in Sherman, Texas, at the beginning of 2009. Thomas has served the city of Fayetteville since March of 2005.
In a statement Thomas released to the Northwest Arkansas Times, she said that her family lives in Anna, Texas, near Sherman and that was one of the primary reasons for the move.
“I have been contemplating a move to be closer to my family for some time,” Thomas said. “The opportunity with (Texoma Council of Governments ) came along and offered the potential for career advancement while also allowing me to be closer to my family.”
In her letter of resignation to Mayor Dan Coody, Thomas wrote it was a pleasure to serve the citizens and the “wonderful community” of Fayetteville.
Coody said in a phone interview with the Times that the move was a very good one, careerwise, for Thomas and that he wished her luck. He said that there had not been talk on what would happen to the position Thomas would leave open. The city is currently under a hiring freeze.
“We’ve got other issues on our plate right now, and this is not on our front burner,” Coody said.
While working for the city, Thomas was in charge of things like streamlining information and helping the City Council and administration clarify certain policies or issues. Thomas has also acted as a liaison to several local watershed groups.
In her new role, Thomas will oversee multiple departments as well as act as a liaison between people like county judges, mayors and school districts.
According to its Web site, the Texoma Council of Governments consists of representatives from the counties, cities and school districts in Texas ’ Cooke, Fannin and Grayson counties. It also has representatives from citizens, minority, and small and medium cities collectively.
Council President Bill Lindsay said the multijurisdictional entity is a regional planning facilitator. He said Thomas was chosen from 33 applicants.
“She stood out very well in almost every way,” he said. “She was sharp, forthright, farseeing.”
Thomas earned her undergraduate degree in 1996 and graduate degrees in 1998 and 2006 from the University of Arkansas.
“Collectively, I’ve lived in Fayetteville longer than I have any other place, and it has been a wonderful place to call home over the years,” she said in her statement. “You always hate to leave such a wonderful, beautiful place, but it is the right decision at the right time for me. (Texoma Council of Governments ) is an exciting, ambitious organization and presents an incredible opportunity for me both personally and professionally.”
Thomas is not the first member of the city’s administration to seek other employment. Gary Dumas, director of operations for the city, was among the top six candidates for a city business manager position in Janesville, Wis. In late April, Dumas applied for the open city administrator job in Fort Smith, where he was interviewed but not named as one of the top three finalists for the job.
At the end of May, Tim Conklin left his job as planning and development management director for Fayetteville and took a position in Springfield, Mo. Conklin said at the time that after 15 years in Fayetteville, he was ready for a new challenge. He is working in transportation planning for Ozarks Transportation Organization, the federally designated regional transportation planning organization that works with two counties and seven cities in Missouri.
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