Q: What drew you to live in Sedona?
I came to Sedona in 1972 as a tourist, loved the area and decided to find a place to live and work.
Q: Have you ever stayed in a short-term rental property?
No.
Q: Why are you running for Mayor?
Serving as the mayor of Sedona has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime and after nearly eight years, I believe there is still more to be accomplished on projects for the good of the community. Implementing the [Transportation Master] Plan, the Climate Action Plan and making progress on affordable, diverse housing while protecting our unique natural beauty and ensuring public safety and financial stability are all critical to maintaining a thriving and vibrant community.
Q: Why are you qualified to be mayor?
In the time I have served as mayor, I have learned a great deal about how government works to serve the residents and visitors alike. Serving during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic was a special challenge and I proved that I was willing to make difficult decisions in a critical time. I have built the relationships needed to work with regional, state and national partners to solve the many problems we face today and in the future. I serve on the [League of Arizona Cities & Towns] Executive Committee, chair one of their policy committees and serve on another.
Q: What do you believe is the solution for traffic issues in Sedona?
I believe that the city’s [Transportation Master] Plan provides the framework and the flexibility to address our traffic, transportation and parking issues, which can only be accomplished by working with several partners, as these issues do not stop at our city limits and the ownership of the streets, highways and land involved is complex. At the heart of strategies in the Transportation Master Plan is getting cars off the road. The implementation of a transit system is a major step in that direction, along with continuing to develop and build bike and pedestrian paths to connect neighborhoods and consolidating uptown parking into one primary location.
Q: Other than traffic, what do you believe are the top three issues facing Sedona?
Sustainability in general is the underpinning for all actions we take, even in carrying out our Climate Action Plan as well as our transportation plan. Building and maintaining a diverse and affordable housing stock is a critical issue and has been exacerbated by the proliferation of vacation rentals.
Q: What steps do you think Sedona should take to make Sedona more affordable for workers?
The city must continue to work with private industry to provide apartments and other multi-family housing for the workforce. Doing so is complicated and constrained by state law in several ways and nothing will happen quickly, but over time, change can occur. We are working with a developer to build an all-affordable 46-unit apartment complex on Sunset Drive and will continue to look for opportunities for other multi-family developments to create a more diverse housing stock.
Q: How do you plan to appeal to all different voters in Sedona?
We constantly listen to public input in a variety of ways. We take public input at council meetings, we set up individual meetings on request, we have a robust citizen engagement program, we convene citizen workgroups, we do regular surveys, we have open houses on various issues and we form focus groups when needed. We are always available via email or regular mail.
Q: If you could only pick one goal, what would you wish to accomplish in the next two years?
What I wish to accomplish and what can be accomplished in two years are quite different things. Since many of my goals are long-term and most are not totally within the city’s control, there are no guarantees as to how quickly they can be accomplished. The one goal I wish to accomplish most is to be able to regulate vacation rentals locally, but that goal is out of our control, although I will continue to advocate for it. With a change of the governor and some changes in the legislature this year, there will be the possibility of changes to state law to allow such local regulation.
