The mayor of Thorne Bay, a community of about 500 people on Prince of Wales Island, announced his intent to resign last week.
Shane Nyquest was elected for a two-year term as the city’s mayor in November 2024. A petition to recall the mayor was submitted with signatures to the city clerk in December 2025, citing “actions or inactions that show failure to perform duties.” Among other things, the petition goes on to say that the mayor has “been onsite to preside at less than half of the meetings over the last year” and “at times his language becomes inflammatory and argumentative.” The city clerk recommended a special election for the mayoral recall be held in February.
During his resignation announcement at last week’s city council meeting, Nyquest said stepping down as mayor will save the city the money of holding a special election.
“If I allowed it to go to the vote and they voted me back in, which I believed they would, then I would be right in the same position that I was this last year,” Nyquest said at last week’s city council meeting.
Nyquest went on to say at the meeting that it would be the last one he chairs, although he plans to stay on the city council. According to the city’s website, his council term expires October 2027. He did not specify when his last day as mayor would be, and could not immediately be reached for comment.
More information about Nyquest’s resignation, including an effective date and who will be filling in as Thorne Bay’s mayor, will be available after the city’s Feb. 3 city council meeting.
Thorne Bay City Administrator John Heustis also announced in a written report last week that he would be stepping down from his role. Heustis was not at that meeting and could not immediately be reached for comment. An employee with the city was unsure who would fill in as its administrator.
Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.
