Q: What drew you to live in Sedona?
Sedona is my home. My family has been here for 28 years. I returned full-time to Sedona a-year-and-a-half ago looking for a better quality of life and educational prospects, particularly for my 9-year-old son.
Q: Have you ever stayed at a short-term rental property before?
Yes, in Hawaii for two nights in 2019.
Q: Why are you running for mayor?
We need change to better represent our residents, our local businesses and our sacred land. Sedona needs new thinking, a new direction that is driven by the residents, not ideology.
Q: Why are you qualified to be mayor?
For this election, the definition of being qualified means someone who has not been part of this council for the past decade. As a woman raised in Sedona, I am qualified to stand up on behalf of my community and say “Hey, we live here and we matter. We won’t continue to be ignored.”
Q: What do you believe is the solution for traffic issues in Sedona?
More traffic studies. Just kidding. I believe that we should re-look at ideas that have been presented and not pursued in the past, such as connecting a road from the Village to West Sedona and an underpass doing transit hubs, they should not be in already congested areas of town. And we need parking for employees in Uptown & the ‘Y’ area.
Q: Other than traffic, what do you believe are the top three issues facing Sedona?
Our population is shrinking and tourism has been exploding. I don’t see any substantive plans by the council to address the long-term issue of a dwindling population or a growing tourism industry. Our resident workforce is being kicked out of their homes because they are being turned into STRs, and retirees are leaving because it’s too congestive here. We need balance. Reckless over-visitation is permanently damaging our land. We are all shepherds of the land. Local, County, State, and Federal agencies must step up and protect the environment.
Q: What steps do you think the city should take to make Sedona more affordable for workers?
n Roll back the 0.5% sales tax to start.
n Subsidize before- and after-school programs so that workers can afford to work here and be assured of a safe and enriching environment for their children while they’re working.
n Level the playing field for homeowners to provide long-term rentals on single-family home properties.
Q: How do you plan to appeal to all different voters in Sedona?
By being authentic. My platform is about representing local residents & businesses who care about Sedona and our future as a community.
Q: If you could only pick one goal, what would you wish to accomplish in the next two years?
Our population is shrinking. We’re not encouraging young families to stay, nor start-up businesses.
Our retirees are leaving for quieter places because it is too congested and they can’t get proper medical care. Our workforce who keeps the tourism industry operating, can’t find homes here or in the Verde Valley. We need to solve this. Sedona must not simply become a reservation experience for visitors.
People throw out the word “sustainable” all the time. How are we working to sustain our community? Efforts must be made to support the needs of those who serve our community. I realize there are workforce shortages across America, but we have the means and creative force to be able to make sure that employers have workers, and workers have safe homes. I am not advocating for handouts, I am advocating to put our hands out to help one another. These issues can not be solved sequentially, they are all interconnected. My foremost goal is to make progress on this. That can only occur when we have an engaged community that feels fully vested and involved in the process.
