Sedona candidates' forum at KSB

[Includes video of each candidate's opening remarks]

Sedona, AZ - February 8, 2008 - Last night, a standing room only crowd of more than 100 Sedona residents packed a small room at Keep Sedona Beautiful headquarters on 360 Brewer Rd. to listen to and participate in the last public political discussion forum before the Sedona mayoral and city council elections on March 11, 2008.  KSB is a conservation organization dedicated to "preserving the wonder" of the greater Sedona area.

Sedona city council candidates (from left to right): Marc Sterling and Dan Surber.

All of the Sedona candidates were on hand.  For mayor: incumbent Mayor Pud Colquitt, Rob Adams current city councilman and mayoral candidate, and Matthew Turner, founder of Green Sedona

For city council (4 year term): Cliff Hamilton, Suzy Chaffee, Marc Sterling, and John Bradshaw; and for the uncontested 2 year spot, Dan Surber.

The format for the evening included a two minute opening remark from each candidate followed by questions from the audience (both written and verbal), followed by a one minute closing remark from each candidate.

Sedona city council candidates (from left to right): Cliff Hamilton and Suzy Chaffee.

Questions ranged from how the candidates would prevent ADOT from cutting down trees now that the SR179 construction has moved into Sedona; whether or not they support a National Scenic Designation for the forest land surrounding Sedona (an NSA designation, that would need to be passed by Congress, would permanently prevent land trades of forest land around Sedona); and their position on the proposed Barabara Antonsen park that would create a new performance venue at the Posse Ground Park but also potentially create traffic, noise, and parking issues.

Other questions related to the proposed development of Lomacasi in Oak Creek Canyon that would include retail space and an underground parking garage along the Oak Creek; whether the candidates are influenced by big business; and what they would do to protect the environment.

Sedona city council candidates (from left to right): Mayoral candidate Rob Adam and John Bradshaw.

The candidates all appeared genuinely concerned about protecting the environment, limiting the impact of new development, and creating new non-tourist revenue sources for the City.

Matthew Turner, who is running on an environmental platform, said that the city council is controlled by big developers.  Like Suzy Chaffee, his platform supports the NSA designation, solar energy, dark skies, and an ordinance that limits water usage.

Rob Adams and Cliff Hamilton stressed their experience and their ability to build personal relationships and work with others to get things accomplished.

John Bradshaw, Dan Surber, and Marc Sterling work here and have families, and want to preserve Sedona for their children.

Incumbent Mayor Pud Colquitt appeared the most battle weary of the candidates, sparring with the audience at times over issues about whether the City has any control over ADOT and property developers, like Lomacasi.  Said Colquitt, "It's easy talk about getting things done, but then there's the practical reality...the other side has its rights too...and it takes money...everything comes down to money.  I think that our County needs to be a lot more politically astute...whenever we come up against the other [big] counties in Arizona over things such as water rights, we lose."

Video:  Candidates' Opening Remarks at KSB Forum 2008

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