The two city council seats on the Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission will be up for grabs in January.

Commissioner David Avanzino and chair Steve Holifield have completed their terms on the CAPC, and the council is expected to vote early in the new year to decide who will serve on the commission in 2026 and 2027.

Avanzino and Holifield have recently indicated that two new council members would fill the roles, hinting that they were not going to put their names in the hat to be reappointed.

However, that seems to have changed.

At the CAPC meeting on Dec. 18, Avanzino said he has reconsidered and would possibly entertain the idea of serving another two years if selected by the council.

“So I was going to have this discussion with you in private, but probably shouldn’t since we can’t talk to each other, which is ridiculous,” Avanzino said, pointing his initial comment to Holifield. “You know Steve, we made the announcement at the last meeting, I believe it was the last meeting, that both Steve and I, our appointments to the commission are over in January. On January 12, the city council will vote on two new city council members to fill our seats.

“I do not foresee anyone on city council volunteering for this position, I’ll just be honest. And I’ll also be honest, there’s probably only two people, with the exception of Steve and myself, that I would want on this commission. Take that for what you want.

“So, I think, Steve, I may hang on for another year. I have not made my final decision. … But, I am thinking about it only because I know the hard work that has gone into the past three years for this commission, the hell that we’ve been through, pulled up our bootstraps and just continued with what we do for the city. And I, for one, am a little reluctant to let that go and be diminished by somebody else’s agenda or personality.”

CAPC Director Mike Maloney immediately responded: “Thank you, David.”

Other CAPC members took time during their commissioners’ comments to thank Avanzino for his announcement, saying they hoped he stayed on board. Commissioner Heather Wilson even got emotional learning of the decision.

“I’m just happy to hear that,” she said, later adding, “David, I really hope you stay. Steve, thank you for your years of service.”

During his comments to close the meeting, Holifield said it was impossible to know what the council was going to do regarding the CAPC seats at its next meeting scheduled for Monday, Jan. 12.

“I’ll wait and see, and unless you have a crystal ball you won’t know how things will go,” Holifield told commissioners. “I definitely will support David back on the commission.

“It’s been an honor of mine to be on the commission and being chair for the last year. I will always be the biggest supporter of this commission. You all know that.”

However, when contacted on Monday, Dec. 22, Holifield, who also announced his plans to run for mayor next year, said he hasn’t ruled out staying on the CAPC for another year.

“I have been on the CAPC for 3 years now and think it is time to let someone else have a turn,” Holifield told the Times-Echo via email. “I truly believe in term limits and everyone taking a turn keeps fresh ideas going.

“With that said, if no one on City Council wants to be on the CAPC next year, then I would volunteer to go another year. I’m here to serve.”