EDA Board Takes Another Hit, Secretary Hayden Ashworth Resigns

In an emailed letter dated Friday, May 17, Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority (EDA, FR-WC EDA) Secretary Hayden Ashworth announced his resignation, effective immediately. Ashworth cited the workload associated with his employment as the reason for his decision:

“Please accept this letter as formal notification of my resignation as Secretary of the Board for the Front Royal Warren County Economic Development Authority, effective today, May 17, 2024.

“Due to the demands of my current work schedule in Washington DC, I am no longer able to dedicate the time and effort necessary to fully support the EDA in its important mission. This decision has not been easy, and I want to express my sincere appreciation for the past year I have served alongside this dedicated board.

“I am truly proud of the work we have accomplished together in creating opportunities for Warren County residents and fostering future economic growth. I have the utmost confidence that the EDA will continue its success in attracting new businesses and investments to our community.

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve. I wish the EDA continued success in its endeavors,” Ashworth wrote to his fellow board members, county officials, including County Director of Economic Development Joe Petty, whose last day in that position was also Friday, May 17.

Hayden Ashworth, far left at December 2023 EDA Asset Committee meeting. Also pictured around the table from Ashworth’s left are John Stanmeyer, Joe Petty, Rob MacDougall, and Jorie Martin. Royal Examiner File Photos Roger Bianchini

Ashworth was appointed to the EDA Board of Directors on March 7, 2023. His term was to expire February 28, 2025. We asked current EDA Board Acting Chairman Jd Walter about Ashworth’s loss. “The EDA Board of Directors has really appreciated Hayden’s time as a member, and are disappointed that he is unable to continue serving. Hayden has been a integral part of our Asset Committee, which has done the lion’s share of the work over the last year getting contracts on the remaining EDA properties. He also served as our Secretary and has been a great contributor and valued voice in our discussions. But we understand that work commitments are a priority, and we hope that at some point in the future, he may be able to return to the board,” Walter responded.

In recent months, citing conflicting time commitments to his seasonally based Mountain Home Bed & Breakfast business, then EDA Board Chairman Scott Jenkins did not apply for reappointment to the EDA board when his term ended February 29. Treasurer Jim Wolfe has also left the board recently and Jorie Martin has announced her intention to resign, though has put that resignation on hold temporarily.

Hayden Ashworth, center right of table, joins former chairman Scott Jenkins, left head of table, Treasurer Jim Wolfe, center left of table, and County Director of Economic Development Joe Petty, near left back to camera, in leaving the County’s EDA mix in recent months. And Jorie Martin, partially obscured to Wolfe’s left, may also be leaving soon. Board of Supervisors Chair Cheryl Cullers, observing upper center, may need a scorecard soon to keep up with the EDA roster substitutions.

Readers may recall that when then-EDA Board Chairman Jeff Browne and member Greg Harold applied for reinstatement at the end of their terms in March of 2023 after helping guide the EDA through the immediate aftermath of the “financial scandal” of 2014-2018 (both were appointed in 2019), that the board of supervisors rejected their reinstatement requests. See related story (published April 5, 2023): “Did not seeing eye to eye with supervisors on property sales priorities lead to replacement of two longest-tenured EDA board members?”