Cottonwood City Councilwoman Deb Althouse announced on Thursday, Oct. 31 that she would be stepping down from her position in the municipal government, effective Tuesday, Nov. 5, citing an intention to move out of Yavapai County in the coming weeks.
“Although I still currently live in Cottonwood, I do not feel it ethical to continue to make decisions for the city when I know I will be moving in the upcoming months,” Althouse wrote in a letter to Cottonwood Journal Extra. “While I am choosing to move away from Cottonwood, I want everyone to under- stand I have been deeply committed to this community for many years and Cottonwood will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Althouse was elected in a primary election on Aug. 28, 2016, for a four-year term set to end in 2020. According to Cottonwood’s Municipal Code, the Cottonwood City Council is permitted to establish a process to fill the vacated seat, which will then be up for election again in 2020.
The council intends to discuss the process to fill Althouse’s seat at the Nov. 5 council meeting.
“Deb Althouse was elected to serve during a period of great transition in Cottonwood,” Cottonwood Mayor Tim Elinski wrote in an email. “Her managerial experience and fiscal conservativeness served us all very well. I appreciated her critical view of the budget and her ability to make difficult decisions even when it challenged status quo and was unpopular.
“She was instrumental in the decision to hire our new city manager Ron Corbin and she was a tire- less advocate for veterans in our community. Council member Althouse donated her stipend back to the community every month. Her service and leadership will be missed.”
Althouse initially joined the council after getting involved with organizing for the annual Thunder Valley Rally biker event. During her time on the council, she was often an outspoken voice challenging city staff or dissenting from the direction of the rest of the council, such as in her vote in May of 2018.
“Not everyone will agree with me and that’s OK,” Althouse wrote. “It’s perfectly OK for people to have a difference of opinion and still remain friends. As I was on council over the past three years and I learned more about the inner workings of the city, I realized my management experience would benefit the city and I am proud to say that we have made some great improvements to the city, including hiring City Manager Ron Corbin along with several other changes.”
This is the second member of the council to step down, after former Vice Mayor Kyla Allen similarly moved out of Cottonwood in March. Allen was replaced on the council by Jackie Nairn.
“I want to thank everyone that voted for me, believed in me and encouraged me along the way. I am proud to have served the city of Cottonwood and thank my fellow council members for their service and friend- ship,” Althouse wrote.
