Four remaining members of the Eureka Springs City Council will have the task of choosing two people to fill vacant seats at its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, March 25.
Council members Terry McClung, Harry Meyer, Autumn Slane and Steve Holifield will vote by ballot at the beginning of Monday’s meeting with the intentions of quickly swearing in the new members selected so they can join in for the rest of the meeting’s business.
Mayor Butch Berry said at the March 11 meeting that the council will vote on the applicants and whoever gets the majority of the votes wins.
“We may have to get two or three votes to get down to one person because we have four applicants [for Ward 1, Position 2],” Berry said.
It was suggested that after the council votes in the first new member, that person can be sworn in and be able to vote for the next vacant seat.
“If we vote one in, whichever, Ward 1 or 2, we can swear them in right there and they can vote on the other one,” Meyer said.
Four people are vying for the Ward 1, Position 2 seat previously held by David Avanzino while two people are in the running for the Ward 2, Position 1 seat most recently held by longtime council member Melissa Greene.
Five of the six applicants for the two seats spoke during the March 11 meeting, telling about themselves and what they thought they had to offer as council members.
The Eureka Springs Times-Echo received copies of resumes and letters of intent from the six applicants that give more information on the backgrounds of each candidate.
WARD 1, POSITION 2 SUSANE GRUNING
Owner of Lema Street Photography and former owner of Chantilly Lace Inn, Susane Gruning said in her application letter that she has been “committed to Eureka Springs for 23 years.”
“I feel my desire to see Eureka Springs continue as a successful viable community aligns with the goals of the city council,” she wrote.
In addition to her small business, Gruning said she is active in the community, including offering free photography for seniors at Eureka Springs High School who are unable to pay for senior photos. She’s a member of the chamber of commerce and community center and is currently on the Eureka Springs Planning Commission.
“I have watched this town ebb and flow and always wanted to contribute in a way that would make a difference and being on this ES City Council is a way for me to give back,” Gruning’s letter reads. “I am confident the city would benefit from my background of business acumen skills used in my previous positions as well in courses that I’ve taught.
“… I believe in Eureka Springs, the town and the people. I would be honored to have the opportunity to be a part of a team that is dedicated to improving the quality and dynamics of this city in a responsible, efficient manner thus enhancing the quality of life for all residents.”
The majority of Gruning’s professional background includes various positions with Bombardier Aerospace in Wichita, Kan., according to her resume.
MARTICIA HANCOOK
Marticia Hancook, who relocated to Eureka Springs in 2021, stressed the importance of community involvement in her application letter.
“Having grown up with a strong sense of civic duty instilled by my parents, I am passionate about making a positive difference in the community and advocating for those who may not have a voice,” Hancook’s letter reads. “As a third-generation liberal hillbilly from the Ozarks, I understand the importance of standing up for what I believe in. Throughout my life, I have been dedicated to defending animals and marginalized individuals, fighting tirelessly for their rights and well-being.”
Hancook’s educational background includes a degree in biological anthropology and her professional career includes working in forensics alongside law enforcement, highway patrol and the FBI before transitioning to restaurant management, the insurance field and dog rescue, according to the application letter.
She owns BowSir’s Pet Supply Shop.
“Living in Eureka Springs has been a transformative experience for us, and we are immensely grateful for the warm welcome and sense of belonging we have found here,” Hancook wrote in her application letter. “Now, I am eager to take the next step in my journey by serving as a City Council member, leveraging my skills, experiences, and passion to contribute to the continued success and well-being of our community.
“I am committed to listening to the needs and concerns of Ward 1 Position 2 residents, advocating for policies that promote inclusivity and equity, and working collaboratively with my fellow council members to address the challenges facing our city.”
DAVID RIORDAN
It didn’t take very long after arriving in the city for David Riordan to realize Eureka Springs was now home.
“I love Eureka Springs, as anyone who has seen me rocketing around town will attest,” he wrote. “Within 5 minutes of being here, searching for a bed & breakfast to purchase, I had decided to spend the rest of my life here. The magic of Eureka Springs infected me immediately and Mother Eureka has blessed me with success here.”
Riordan has been general manager of Eureka Sunset Cabins since 2001 and Eureka Rocket Tours since 2002, according to his submitted resume.
“It’s clear that you’re looking for a candidate that is extremely familiar with the responsibilities associated with the role and can perform them confidently,” Riordan wrote in his application letter. “Given these requirements, I am certain between my legal experience (member in good standing of Virginia Bar), multi decade business experience, and proven abilities as a professional mediator, I have the necessary skills to successfully do the job well and serve our city.”
Riordan pointed out that he has strengths of conflict resolution, public speaking, contract compliance and customer satisfaction.
“In my roles as general manager at Eureka Sunset Cabins and Eureka Rocket Tours, as well as the other positions I have held over the years, I have consistently demonstrated the ability to think critically and creatively, write in a clear and concise manner, and act in a prudent and timely manner,” he wrote. “I would relish the opportunity to use my abilities to serve Eureka Springs.”
MICHAEL WELCH
After first visiting Eureka Springs 15 years ago, Michael Welch said he purchased a home in the city seven years ago and eventually retired to the area from Oklahoma 18 months ago.
From there, he quickly got involved in the community, he wrote in his application letter for the city council position.
“In Eureka Springs and Holiday Island, my wife Vickie and I joined the Holiday Island Hikers and I volunteer on their annual trash collection events,” Welch wrote. “Vickie is involved in the arts community. We are supporters of the Community Center, the Krewe of Krazo, and of course the pickleball community.”
Welch’s application shows a history of being involved politically as a legislative liaison for the American Federation of Government Employees, a member of the Democratic National Committee, a precinct chairperson for the Cleveland County (Okla.) Democratic Party and a candidate support coordinator for the Carroll County Democratic Party.
“In Oklahoma I was involved in various charitable efforts such as Oklahoma City Food Bank, Oklahoma City Community Council, Big Brothers/ Big Sisters,” Welch wrote. “I was a foster parent and have involved myself in other interests within the community.”
Welch said he and his wife “truly adore Eureka Springs.”
“We have made many friendships all over the area,” he wrote. “We like the tourism, the scenery and the uniqueness and variety that this small community in the Ozarks offers.”
WARD 2, POSITION 1 DAVID AVANZINO
No stranger to the recent happenings in city government, David Avanzino hopes to return to the table he left just last month after moving from Ward 1 to Ward 2.
Avanzino was elected without opposition to the Ward 1, Position 2 seat in the November 2022 election and held the role until recently moving to Ward 2. When Nick Roberts stepped down early from the Ward 1 seat, the council voted to have Avanzino take over the role two months early.
Before his resignation, Avanzino was also serving his second term as one of two council representatives on the city advertising and promotion commission.
“Having had the honor of representing the constituents of Ward 1 Position 2 from November 2022 to February 2024, I am keenly aware of the challenges and opportunities facing our city and its diverse communities,” Avanzino wrote in his application letter for the vacant Ward 2 seat. “My tenure on the City Council has been marked by a dedication to transparency, inclusivity, and effective governance. I have diligently worked to address the concerns of Ward 1 residents, advocate for policies that enhance the quality of life for all Eureka Springs residents, and collaborate with fellow council members to make informed decisions for the betterment of our city as well as add a very positive and impact commitment to the CAPC.”
If picked, Avanzino said he would “pledge to approach my responsibilities with the same level of integrity, diligence and passion that I have exhibited in my previous role.”
“I am committed to working collaboratively with my fellow council members, city staff, and residents to address the pressing issues facing our city and to chart a course for a prosperous and sustainable future,” he wrote. “I am humbled by the support and encouragement I have received from members of the community, and I am eager to earn the trust and confidence of Ward 2 residents as we work together to build a stronger, more resilient Eureka Springs.”
ANNA SMEDLEY
Returning to the city she grew up in five years ago, Anna Smedley said she is a “life-time lover of Eureka Springs.”
“One of my favorite things about Eureka Springs is sharing it with so many visitors every year, and I am very familiar with the life of a small business, and the needs of owners and front-line workers,” Smedley wrote in her application letter for the vacant Ward 2 seat. “My family renovated and were the original proprietors of the Piedmont House over 40 years ago, and I am married to a local business owner.”
Smedley, who has served as executive director of the Eureka Springs Community Center since June 2022, returned to make Eureka Springs her “forever home” after several years in Las Vegas.
She earned a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and then worked at the university as an assistant professor and director of student/community engagement.
After returning to Eureka Springs, she was the director of community engagement and research at Clear Spring School for 10 months and director of operations at Booze Brothers Liquor before take over the role at the community center.
“The Ward 2 position interests me because I would love to learn more about the City and extend my service to the community,” Smedley wrote. “I believe my commitment to community, empirical background, and love of Eureka Springs makes me an excellent candidate for the Council position.”
According to her resume, her local involvement has included the Eureka Springs Rotary Club, high school mountain bike team and the Eureka Springs Community Center Foundation Board.
“Community is deeply important to me …,” Smedley wrote.
