Edmonds Finance Director Resigns

Editor's note: The following information is from a City of Edmonds press release.

Mayor Dave Earling expressed surprise at the resignation of Finance Director Shawn Hunstock Monday.

“This comes as a bit of a surprise as we have just completed a very effective budget conversation with the City Council, adopting a 2013 budget without too much fanfare. We are now gearing up to tackle the 2014 budget," Earling said in a press release from the city.

According to the release, Hunstock told the city that he is trying to balance work and life, and lives a 1.5-hour drive from his middle school aged daughter. He has opted to choose family first, and will be leaving the City to move closer, effective Feb. 20, 2013.

Earling said the city has appreciated Hunstock's service. Some of the key accomplishments by Hunstock include facilitating the process for the City to adopt a balanced 2013 budget, implementing significant changes to the City's financial statements and reporting, drafting new reserve policies for the City, and stepping the City through a clean audit for 2011.

Hunstock said he has enjoyed his one and a half year tenure.

“It has been a pleasure to serve the residents of Edmonds, the Mayor and the City Council the last year and a half. We have accomplished a lot during that time and I am certain the Mayor and Council will continue the hard work we've started in addressing the City's long-term financial challenges. The City is on strong financial ground now, and I encourage the Council and Mayor to continue working on the Budgeting by Priorities process to insure City resources are allocated in a manner consistent with the expressed priorities of the community as outlined in the City's Strategic Action Plan,” Hunstock said in the release.

Earling intends to hire an interim Finance Director until the city can complete an executive recruitment for a permanent replacement.