Fontanelle mayor will not seek re-election in November

This is the first in a series of stories leading up to the 2023 city/school election Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Fontanelle Mayor Mary Sturdy-Martin has chosen not to seek another term leading the city. Her term and all of the others on the city council will expire at the end of 2023.

Sturdy-Martin filled a vacancy prior to her initial election as mayor in November 2019.

“Every single position is open, which is unheard of because we’ve always alternated so that the mayor is always a two-year term and the council is three-year terms. Because of special elections and appointments, everyone is up this year,” Sturdy-Martin said. “I’m stepping down. My family has aksed for more of my time for family time, and that’s very fair.”

Two priorities the mayor currently sees on the table for the town are remaining solvent and staying on top of infrastructure needs. The city council has also recently been reviewing the employee handbook, digging into the policies, making sure expectations for all are clear.

“We have had turnover with both council and employees. I think it’s important they know what’s expected of them, what are their parameters, as do the council and the community,” Sturdy-Martin said. “We also want to be good stewards of our financial situation.”

Referring to inflation and the economy right now, Sturdy-Martin is proud of the way the community has been able to work with residents who are struggling in various ways, and hopes that can continue.

The city recently opened the community building on more than one occasion for those needing relief from extreme heat.

Another item passed during Sturdy-Martin’s tenure as mayor was a 28E agreement for water and electric utility support with Greenfield Municipal Utilities. She not only praised GMU staff for their willingness to work with Fontanelle, but she feels Fontanelle has a good team of employees right now who are willing to do their part toward successful outcomes for all. She hopes anyone who steps onto the council or into the mayor seat will have the same approach in the future.

“I think people need to look at the candidates. I think sometimes people run and they don’t know the time that’s involved that isn’t meeting time that you don’t see, the research [and other duties],” Sturdy-Martin said. “We have a community that very much wants to grow, but how do we do that? We have to ask the candidates the tough questions. Are they willing to move forward in a way that is best for the community as a whole and keep that in place, or are they able to take out their personal opinions and truly do what’s best for the town and the taxpayers?”