With the 2018 general election season in full swing, those vying for seats on the Sedona Fire District’s Governing Board were asked a variety of questions pertaining to issues facing the district — both today and in the future.
Age: 52
Occupation: Realtor and paralegal.
Years in the district: 24
Q: Why do you feel you’re qualified to serve on the SFD Governing Board?
As a former Governing Board member, I have a full four years of experience on the job with a perfect record. My first order of business was to help facilitate and implement the AED Program, with Battalion Chief Bill Boler. Of course, it took three of the five Governing Board members to vote it in, but I considered the AED program my baby. I also researched, located and negotiated the purchase of the land that Station 6 sits on, without taking any Realtor fees.
| Sedona Fire District |
| The six candidates for the Sedona Fire District Governing Board election were given five questions to answer about their candidacy and 750 words in total to respond. These are their answers. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. |
Additionally, along side Chief Matt Shobert, had several meetings with the Christian church that owned the land, as well as with the Jewish Temple directly adjacent to the property. Initially, our first couple of meetings with the Christian church were in order to request from the congregation a vote and approval to sell the property to SFD, and additional meetings with both houses of worship were in order to facilitate an agreement to peacefully co-exist. We spent many days working with them to create this peaceful co-existence, and to this day the Friendship Walk — the idea created by Shobert and myself — physically extends from the [Jewish] temple, through SFD property, to the Christian church.
I have always had a real love for public service and especially for the fire service. I have been involved with the fire service for over two decades in Sedona and Los Angeles. In 2012, I traveled to North Carolina to attend Duke University to attain the status of certified paralegal, after passing the paralegal bar. I also was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award by President [Barack] Obama, for over 500 Volunteer hours in law enforcement, during my tenure with the Raleigh Police Department. I am well-educated, I have a strong public service and legal background, I have been a small-business owner in Sedona, and my love for public service has driven me to volunteer for many nonprofit organizations in order to help others, for the past 30 years.
Q: If elected, what would be your top priority?
Cleaning up the financial issues that are pending, and keeping an open communication with the public, as to all perceived and true issues. Along those lines, I intend to make sure that we don’t allow our contingency and capital funds to drop to dangerously low levels again.
Q: What do you feel is the biggest issue the SFD is currently facing?
The public’s lack of understanding of what the District really does for them for the amount of taxes that they pay every year. As a property owner myself in Sedona, I would also want to know what my taxes are paying for. The Sedona Fire District provides a wide range of services, and it seems that a majority of the public does not know what services are available to them. A lack of understanding and miscommunication has been a big issue that has lead to an uninformed and discontent public.
Q: Last year a $17.9 million bond failed to pass but it’s been determined that there are improvement needs to various fire stations. How would you address these deficiencies?
I will be looking for other funding sources that do not impact my constituency. I would be open to non-matching grants from governmental, as well as non-governmental agencies.
Q: Would you be in favor of a joint venture with state and federal agencies to build a new station at Slide Rock to address the needs of residents and visitors? Explain why or why not.
Yes. This will benefit everyone. Getting medical and fire assistance in the canyon is a particularly serious issue facing residents of the canyon. I was on the board, and present when the Brins Fire began in June of 2006. The fire was so intense, that you could see the smoke from a NASA satellite. I was able to survey the damage with Chief Shobert, as the fire tore through the canyon, and was blown away by the lack of additional ingress and egress for the residents.
I recall many residents trying to get out, and with only one method of ingress and egress, it proved to be incredibly stressful. We need a full canyon station for fire suppression, as well as for the many medical emergencies that occur at residences in
