We have strongly stated in two editorials that we oppose the Rojo Grande Ranch rezoning. We would assume that other like-minded opponents would cite our newspapers’ strong stance against this project and thank us for our vocal opposition.
Yet at a meeting Wednesday, Jan. 16, Rojo Grande Ranch opponent Rob Adams took the opportunity to bash what should be his strongest ally. Speaking to a room of other opponents whose position we have elucidated twice, he falsely claimed “I wrote a couple pieces for the Red Rock News and they refused to print ’em.”
This is a flat-out lie.
Unfortunately for Sedona residents, Adams has a long history of not telling the truth when it suits him politically or makes him appear to be the victim. Now his falsehoods threaten El Rojo Grande’s opponents’ ability to win support and fight rezoning.
Here are the facts:
Adams sent us a letter — one, not “a couple” — but it greatly exceeded the word count limit and we did not print it. Rather than cut the letter to fit our word count limit — a limit all our letters to the editor authors adhere to [stated below this editorial] — Adams declined to do so.
As he is a board member with Keep Sedona Beautiful, our advertising department contacted the board and sent board members our rates so they could purchase space on the advertising side of the paper and run the letter in full.Â
Several opponents to El Rojo Grande rezoning have done this because they had a lot to say and wanted their entire statement to reach Sedona area residents and Yavapai County administrators. Their voices were heard by our readers.
The KSB board told our advertising representatives they would discuss buying an ad to run Adams’ letter but have yet to accept or decline, despite multiple follow-ups from General Manager Kyle Larson.
We run Guest Perspectives from elected officials and experts in the field, but Adams is neither.
He is no expert.
A one-time Sedona mayor, Adams has not served in public office in half a decade. Ex-elected officials don’t get to enjoy the same courtesy they had in office once they leave office. Voters have moved on, choosing not to elect them. Other officials have been elected to those seats and they speak for the commuÂnity now. No other elected official has ever asked for special treatment like Adams has.
Actually, Adams has sent us several letters since leaving office that were in excess of our word limit over the years and has refused to cut any of them. He demands special treatment because he once served in office.
“Once,” i.e., no longer.
“Served,” i.e., past tense.
As a refresher, Sandy Moriarty is Sedona’s mayor and has been for the last five years. Apparently, Adams didn’t get the memo and still thinks he is a Sedona leader.Â
He is not.
Instead, he would rather ride the coattails of his past service and mislead new residents who don’t remember the tumult of his tenure.
We don’t need to remind voters of when Adams set up three “mayor’s committees” comprised of his hand-picked allies and had them duplicate and oversee city functions. Council forcefully disbanded these committees, seeing their existence as a naked power play to impose his will on the city.
Nor do we need to talk about when Adams walked out of a Sedona City Council meeting. His childish behavior led to a five-hour ethics meeting costing Sedona taxpayers thousands of dollars for an outside mediator.
Adams always viewed the mayor’s seat like he was Sedona’s executive, but the seat is merely one of seven. The mayor is a voice in a choir. The mayor’s only special authority is determining the order of the council agenda.
Adams has not since opted to run for any other office representing voters, because he likely would not win. It’s easier to mislead people as a former mayor than to run for office, win a seat, work cooperatively with other officials and be held accountable by voters.
If the El Rojo Grande zone change passes, opponents should look at Adams’ involvement and behavior as a key reason why they did not succeed.
Christopher Fox Graham
Managing Editor
