Mark Jones resigns from Sylva Town Board
Mark Jones.
File photo
Sylva Commissioner Mark Jones tendered his resignation from the board through a letter during the Feb. 13 meeting, citing health-related reasons.
“Dear Town of Sylva Board of Commissioners and residents, it is with a heavy heart that I’m resigning from the Town of Sylva Board of Commissioners effective today, Feb. 13,” Town Manager Paige Dowling read in a letter from Jones, who was not present at the meeting. “In the last month I’ve had major medical issues that are forcing me to resign, I need to focus on my health and family, and I cannot give this position the full attention that I feel like the town needs.”
Jones was elected to the board in 2023, the same election that saw Mayor Johnny Phillips and Blitz Estridge join the board. Jones is a lifelong resident of Sylva, working 30 years as a sales manager at a local business.
This will be the third board vacancy Sylva has experienced outside of normal elections since 2023 when Mayor Linda Sossamon resigned in February of that year. At that time Commissioner David Nestler was appointed by the board to serve as mayor and Brad Waldrop was selected from among a pool of applicants to serve as the newest commissioner. Waldrop went on to win the most votes of any candidate in the 2023 municipal elections.
Just over a year later, in April of 2024, Commissioner Natalie Newman resigned from her position on Sylva’s town board. The town selected Jonathan Brown to fill the vacant seat.
The town will follow the same method it used when Sossamon and Newman resigned, accepting applications from Sylva residents to fill the unoccupied seat.
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Applications are due to town hall by March 5. They will be opened and distributed to town board members during the March 13 meeting. The board will vote by ballot during the March 27 meeting, with the expectation that the candidate selected would participate in the budget work session that is also set to take place March 27. Then the new commissioner will be sworn in on April 10.
“It’s transparent; taking applications, reviewing them … and then giving the board members the opportunity to open and review them in public,” said Dowling.
“It seems to have worked each time the last few times,” said Mayor Johnny Phillips.
Commissioner Brad Waldrop volunteered to replace Jones as a town representative on the Mountain Projects board and was approved to do so.
“I commend the board and staff on everything you’ve been able to accomplish the last year,” Jones said in his resignation letter. “It’s been a pleasure working with all of you. I’m grateful to public works, fire, police, administrative staff and the Town Manager for all of your support and what you do for the residents.”
Phillips said Jones “cared about and loved the Town of Sylva.”
Jones, who received the second highest number of votes behind Waldrop in the 2023 election, said he was grateful to the residents for putting their faith in him.
“I appreciate the support from the business community for standing behind our little town,” Jones said in his letter. “It’s going to take the businesses, residents, staff and the board supporting each other and working together to get through the next few years. I hope the commissioner that replaces me will have the best interest of the citizens, staff and business community at heart. I want to wish the town and residents the best. Please keep me in your prayers and stop to say hello when you see me in the street.”
