As election season approaches, Brian Fultz and five other Sedona City Council candidates answered many questions about their goals in the position and vision for the city. The six candidates are running for three four-year openings on the council.
Q: How long have you lived in Sedona?
I’ve owned my home in Sedona since 2004 and became a full-time resident in 2021.
Q: What do you or did you do for a living?
I am currently a small business owner having founded and run Peak Innovation, a business consulting firm. And I co-own four franchises outside of Arizona. While I’ve experienced many successes as a small business owner, I’ve also learned to adapt to challenging times such as the Great Recession and the emergence of COVID-19. As such I’ve learned a great deal about fiscal responsibility that will benefit the city council.
Q: Where in Sedona do you spend the most time?
On the trails. I hike, mountain bike and trail run.
Q: How else are you involved in the Sedona community [other than running for office]?
I have completed the Sedona Citizens Academy where I learned essential information about how the city operates, and I have been appointed to the Sedona Community Plan Update Working Group where a key part of our mission is to ensure that Sedona residents have their voices heard when formulating the vision for our city for the next 10 years.
I am active at Aletheia Church where I lead an adult small group and volunteer with the church primarily at Sedona Parks and Recreation community events.
Q: What do you believe are the most important values to Sedona residents?
I believe residents have a passion and a strong sense of stewardship for our sacred lands here in Sedona. They desire to have a sense of community and high quality of life. They also want to be heard by the City Council and see that their input is reflected in council decisions and resultant direction to city staff.
Q: What are Sedona’s top three issues right now?
Short-term rentals are the top issue that worsens our other top issues like the lack of long-term rental options — affordable and market-rate; the increased traffic on our roads due to longer overnight stays; and the environmental damage to the national forest from excess tourism.
Q: What do you feel is the City Council’s biggest responsibility to the residents?
I believe the biggest responsibility is to be considering not just our challenges today but to try to foresee them five to ten or more years from now and ensure we are making the plans and decisions that ensure Sedona’s viability for future generations.
Q: Why are you running for City Council?
I want to bring my strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills to address the major issues we face. I’m a good listener and facilitator and believe I can be persuasive on the City Council. As a small business owner, I am a calculated risk-taker, which translates into a willingness to fight for our residents even if a council decision is subsequently challenged.
