Kurt Gehlbach is running for Sedona mayor against incumbent Sandy Moriarty in the Aug. 4 Primary Election.

Candidate Interview

Q: Why are you qualified to be mayor?

My qualifications to serve the people of Sedona as mayor come from my many years of experience working with and for the community. Since my arrival in 1996, I have dedicated myself to the safety of Sedona. I had the honor of serving the Sedona Fire Department as a trained firefighter, first responder and emergency medical tech­nician. Soon after, I became a licensed real estate agent, enabling me to advise and negotiate for the benefit of Sedona’s residential buyers and sellers.

I have also had the privilege of working alongside private developers, researching and developing custom homes. My most relevant experience is having engaged in private committees for the betterment and sustainability of Sedona’s future. Through the Citizen’s Engagement Program I contributed to the 2016/17 Budgeting Committee and am now on my second three-year term on the Historical Preservation Commission. I have extensive experience in revenue generation and budgeting, and I take great interest in the preservation of our history and natural surroundings.

Q: During these difficult times, what specific steps will you implement to help Sedona’s economic recovery?

First, Sedona must re-eval­uate all city expenditures. All contracts must be evaluated and amended, to eliminate excessive spending. We must redirect funds into sustainable financial efforts. Sedona city government offi­cials, local business owners and chief marketing officers must come together for the purpose of creating an action plan that evaluates consumer needs while anticipating marketing changes.

Secondly, we need to listen for changes in customer senti­ment and behavior. People are aligning more closely with family, friends and local businesses, now more than ever. The current crisis seems to be aimed to amplifying distrust within the business/ customer relationship, however trust can be re-established through customer-focused actions.

Q: What are the top three issues facing Sedona right now [aside from COVID-19 and the economic slowdown]?

Traffic and transit; short-term rentals and housing affordability for our workforce, young families and those in need of housing, and creating independent revenue for Sedona.

Q: How will you keep Sedona affordable for residents?

As the mayor of Sedona, I will meet with the Governor of Arizona to create by-laws designed to regulate short-term rentals in a way that would open up long-term housing rentals to better meet the demand for our Sedona workforce and residents.

In addition, I aim to create business models and archetypes, designed to generate revenue while protecting our environment. I will also create systems to better manage our tourism and produce additional revenue streams.

Q: What are your goals over the next two years?

I’m applying for a 10-year position with a mission designed to bring Sedona into the future while preserving her natural grandeur. Sedona has great potential to be a leader in many areas of sustainability. Looking at the next two years, I intend to complete projects approved years ago, yet still untouched by our current elected officials, like the Tlaquepaque crosswalk under the bridge, the historical location of the ranger station and park on Brewer Road. I will tackle pressing issues like the regulation of short-term rentals and will initiate projects that support affordable long-term housing. The continued failure of “Sedona in Motion” must be re-evaluated and modified to make it a success. We can do this through business models designed to manage tourism, foot and bike traffic, and by decreasing automobile traffic to minimize our carbon footprint.

Q: How will you appeal to or reach out to the majority of residents, not just the loudest voices in the council chambers?

The mayor is an elected official for the people. Many Sedona residents are discour­aged and feel as if they have no voice with the current municipal officials. Many believe our elected officials have “sold out” to the Chamber of Commerce and the Sedona Lodging Council. My intent is to bring “togetherness” back to our community through the engage­ment of every resident. I am working currently to connect person-to-person listening and truly hearing the opinions of our residents and busi­ness owners. All residents should have the opportunity to attend council meetings and be heard. I intend to actualize this opportunity, even if it means moving council chambers to a bigger location.

Q: How will you reach consensus among six other council members?

The mayor can only understand the welfare of the city by being submerged in the city, talking with and hearing from residents, small business owners and their employees. The same applies to council members. They should be forming their opinions from residents’ insights combined with factual well-researched infor­mation. This is how we can inspire consensus by determining common ground and reaching compromise that supports the greater purpose of the solution.

Q: Sedona looks to lose $10 million this year. How will you cut the budget?

Cutting the budget isn’t the answer. When our current elected officials cut the budget, services are the first to be eliminated which adversely affect our residents. We need to make more educated decisions about spending by collaborating with the residents and elected officials. This is the first step. Proper manage­ment of all monies is crucial to the future of Sedona. This city has the ability to be one of the wealthiest cities in our country, generating revenue streams of great proportions, so why isn’t Sedona creating its own revenue?

Our current mayor and city council has allowed for capricious spending of over $300,000 through the purchase of proper­ties without any effective negotiations. They have directed and agreed to the funding of $3 million to the Chamber of Commerce; which must be retained for the security of Sedona’s economic structure due to the financial crisis created by COVID-19. They’ve agreed to construction costs of $11.5 million toward only one of two planned structures that will allow an additional 500 automobiles into Uptown. Sedona suffers mostly due to the mismanage­ment of our city with no true plan in place.

Candidate Essay

Sedona captured my heart as a child as my family often journeyed from Phoenix to enjoy the red rocks and conduct busi­ness with the local artists through my grandfather’s ceramic industry.

Sedona became my permanent home in 1996. Recruited by the Sedona Fire Department, I volun­teered and trained with the top firefighters in the world to include medical, white water rapid and rope rescue. The following year I became a licensed real estate agent and began researching and imple­menting the development of custom homes.

I’ve participated in various outreach efforts, such as private sustainable committees for the city of Sedona, directing me to seek further involvement within Sedona’s politics through the Citizen’s Engagement Program to include the 2016/17 Budgeting Committee second three-year seat on the Historical Preservation Commission and personal investiga­tions contributing to the well-being of Sedona and her residents.

I am honored to call Sedona my home while determined to serve this city to the greatest of my ability for the benefit of all who reside and visit. My run for mayor was inspired in many ways as I continue to witness deficiencies within Sedona’s contradictory leadership, declining cultural aspects and incompetent spending without concern for our residents and community.

Collaborating in the planning and zoning commission and city council meetings, I’ve recognized an absence of transparency and lack of communication with the people. In the current state of our country, the policies of each state and city must be re-evaluated as we move toward a possible financial crisis. Our priorities are to define Sedona’s long-term goals. Secondary to social distancing and shelter-in-place ordinances, sales have fallen precipitously causing strain on our local business owners and workforce.

As we together move forward, I see a prosperous Sedona with a managed flow of tourism, financial stability and a community that supports one another successfully in unison with nature, tourism, community connection, arts/ culture and God’s love.

My commitment to leading Sedona developed through experience, knowl­edge and divine inspiration providing me the courage, character and love neces­sary for a transparent voice of community. I, as mayor, with true collaboration of all who share Sedona in common, will manage Sedona’s tourism. Together we direct Sedona’s future integrating her unique history, arts/culture and magnificent natural beauty creating prosperity for everyone.

It is an honor to serve our evolving city and I thank all who support Sedona and my campaign. Together we shall work to create more of what we want to see in this city: Love for one another in a thriving city inspiring all whom live and visit here. It is time to set our political and personal differences aside to unify in our uniqueness and celebrate a bright future together.

I aspire to lead this diverse commu­nity, so full of differing ideologies, toward discovering what true collabora­tion, prosperity and community mean for Sedona. My name is Kurt Gehlbach and I‘m recruiting everyone as we unite to become a flagship city educating and inspiring others throughout the world.