Fairfax Council Member Resigns

Fairfax Councilman Ryan O’Neil, who was elected to the council in November 2011, has resigned from the Fairfax Town Council because he will be moving outside the town limits this month. 

In an open letter to the community (read it below), O’Neil explains that in the last three years, he and his wife had five unsuccessful attempts to purchase homes in Fairfax’s town limits. They needed a larger home for their growing family, he said.

O’Neil’s resignation will be effective Feb. 7, he said.

 Here’s his open letter to the community about his resignation:

“After unsuccessfully trying to purchase five homes within the town limits of Fairfax over the last 3 years, my wife and I were finally able to purchase a larger house just outside the Town limits to accommodate our growing family.  I have been advised by the Town Attorney that I need to resign prior to my moving into the new house.  It is with mixed emotions that I hereby tender my resignation from the Fairfax Town Council effective February 7th, 2013.

Running for this position and serving the Citizens of Fairfax was never about “me”.  I saw a need for a leader who would speak up for those with soft voices; so I did.  I have met many wonderful people and learned an amazing amount of information in my short tenure on the Town Council.  The most important thing I learned in this process was to listen to all sides and do my homework.  This approach (and pretending my Mom & Dad were in the front row when I voted ) helped make difficult choices in front of me pretty simple.  There are many passionate and persuasive viewpoints in our small town, but what makes it so special in my opinion is watching people come together when it counts to make our town work.

There are dozens of very hard working people behind the scenes in town that deserve a lot of credit for making Fairfax so special.  They work in your Planning, Finance, Building, Public Works, Fire and Police Departments.  They sit on your Planning, Park & Rec, Volunteer and Open Space Committees.  They work the youth of the Ross Valley, Zero Waste, Chamber of Commerce, Safe Routes to School, and your General Plan Implementation Committee.  The list goes on.  The truth is that we have it pretty damn good here in Fairfax, and in my opinion it is because we have an overwhelming amount of people who care.  Good for us.

I have greatly enjoyed serving on the Council and bringing what I feel is a much needed “common sense” approach to town leadership.   I have faith that the remaining Council will continue to listen to the community and do what they think is best for the most people.  I look forward to future participation in the community and service to the Town.   If I could leave a challenge to those that would read this, it would be get involved, stay informed and work together.”

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