David Blauert, 67, thinks the Sedona Fire District should be run more like a business, and this is a primary reason he is running for a seat on the Governing Board.
Blauert moved to Sedona 49 years ago from Minnesota after graduating from high school and being offered a summer job that turned into a two-year job.
After the job, he joined the U.S. Marines Corps Reserves, and Blauert said he knew then he was going to settle in Sedona after serving in the armed forces.
The beauty and the climate of the community were too good to pass up, especially after living in Minnesota for the first 18 years of his life.
As a contractor and developer, Blauert has built more than 900 homes in Sedona, and he is waiting for the economy to recover before building on another parcel of land he owns.
While Blauert has never been elected to public office, he established and developed the Yavapai County Parks and Recreation Commission. He served on the commission for 25 years and was chairman for 12 of those years.
During the time he served on the commission, eight county parks were built.
He said his biggest plum was the creation of Posse Grounds Park. Blauert and Bill Garland put in the ballparks and the swimming pool at the park after raising funds to do so.
He was also involved with building the Sedona Community Pool, Sedona Teen Center and the Jack Malmgren Memorial Skate Park.
Blauert is currently involved in the fundraising for the construction of a military service park at Jack Jamesen Memorial Park that the Sedona City Council approved in late July.
So far, Blauert has raised $50,000 of the $250,000 he needs for construction to start.
The Marines Corps Reserves were heavily involved in helping build Posse Grounds Park, he said.
He is also a member of the Sedona 30, Sedona Community Center and started the General Contractors Association.
The fire district, he said, should be operated similar to how businesses are run.
“There is a need for businesspeople, like me, to run. My priority is to bring my business knowledge to the elected board to develop a better business plan for the fire district than the one that exists,” he said. “There is a need for businesspeople [to be on the board].”
He also said it was not his burning desire to serve on the fire board but he decided to run after groups of people asked him to consider the possibility.
Blauert is running as a slate for fiscal responsibility with two other candidates.
He said SFD may not want to examine some financial issues, but the district works for taxpayers.
“They should be accountable for every nickel that is spent in the fire district,” he said.
Being accountable is what Blauert believes in. He said people in the community know he is accountable, as well.
Retaining the quality and service of the fire district is essential, but, he said, there is nothing wrong with having better fiscal responsibilities and control.
“What’s wrong with managing the money?” he asked.
He also said he is not afraid to make tough decisions and has never been accused of shedding responsibility.
Another reason Blauert is running is he wants to give back to the community.
“Sedona has been really good to me, and I feel like I have really been good for Sedona.”
He also said he has the time now to devote to the fire district and the community.
“I have a lot of time with nothing to develop,” he said.
Sedona Fire District Governing Board candidates’ profiles:
Bert Berkshire, published Oct. 1
David Blauert, published Oct. 1
Phyllis Erick, published Oct. 8
Dick Fishel, published Friday, Oct. 15
Douglas Fitzpatrick, published Friday, Oct. 15
