Sedona, AZ — My name is Rich Gay. I’m a 65-year-old Uptown Sedona resident who moved here 4.5 years ago with my wife because of the extraordinary natural beauty and small-town character that still inspire us every day. As the founder of a software company that managed large, complex projects, I bring proven skills in project management, fiscal responsibility, and delivering results. I’m running for City Council as part of the Sedona Residents First slate alongside Henry Silbiger for mayor, Lita Loesch Boyd, and Jean-Christophe Buillet. Together, we believe it’s time to put Sedona residents and local businesses first—before tourists, developers, or outside interests.
Sedona is at a crossroads. For too long, major decisions at City Hall have been made with insufficient transparency and resident input. Whether it was the proposed homeless car park near the high school, the unannounced rollout of Flock traffic cameras, the aggressive push for high-density housing, or the Council’s lawsuit to block a resident vote on the future of the Cultural Park, many in our community feel their voices are ignored or dismissed. When the Council votes unanimously on nearly every major issue, it raises a fundamental question about how we govern. When the Council’s decisions favor development, mass tourism, and wasteful spending, residents and local businesses suffer.
In a small town like Sedona, strong governance isn’t weakened by engaged citizens—it is strengthened by them. Small town government works best as a participative democracy, with residents having a real, meaningful chance to weigh in before big directional and spending decisions are locked in. I will change the culture at City Hall and among city staff so that they truly listen, rather than simply going through the motions of public comment. It’s essential to restoring trust. Residents aren’t “NIMBYs” or obstacles when they speak up about preserving our open spaces, trails, and quality of life—they are the people who live here, pay the taxes, and care most deeply about Sedona’s future.
That’s why my top priorities as your Councilor will focus on practical, resident-first solutions rooted in transparency, accountability, and “Preserving the Wonder” that makes Sedona special.
Here’s what I will start working on the day I’m elected:
First, restore transparency and accountability. Residents deserve real information and a genuine opportunity to participate before major decisions are made. I will champion regular town-hall meetings, public tracking of budgets and projects online in real time, and voter approval for any capital expenditure over $5 million. No more decisions made behind closed doors and presented as faits accomplis.
Second, enforce real fiscal responsibility. The Uptown parking garage is a cautionary tale—costs ballooning toward $30 million while the actual number of parking spaces may decrease. This cannot continue. I will demand stronger contracts, detailed upfront planning, competitive bidding, and an end to wasteful spending on expensive consultants. Every tax dollar must deliver value for the people who live and work here.
Third, protect and elevate our small-town character and extraordinary arts and cultural heritage. Sedona was once a serious destination for artists, filmmakers, and musicians. We can make culture an economic engine again, just as Santa Fe has done. I will fight for a formal Cultural Master Plan, a revitalized Cultural Park serving as a true civic and cultural hub for festivals, film, artist installations, community events, and a Native American museum and art center. This includes creating a curated “golden triangle” connecting Tlaquepaque, Uptown, and the Sedona Heritage Museum—while protecting the Park as one of our last large open spaces and preserving red rock views.
Fourth, tackle our worsening traffic congestion with practical solutions. My top priority is dramatically expanding and improving our cross-town shuttle system with reliable connectors linking Camp Verde, Cottonwood, the Village of Oak Creek, Uptown, Tlaquepaque, and north into the Canyon to Slide Rock and West Fork. Getting more tourists and regional commuters out of their cars is the single most effective way to reduce daily gridlock on our residential roads, lower noise pollution, cut CO₂ emissions, and ease pressure on neighborhoods. I will also work closely with ADOT, Coconino County, and Yavapai County on immediate improvements and longer-term relief options like Oak Creek crossings—pursued with full environmental review, strong community support, and minimal burden on Sedona taxpayers.
We must also manage growth responsibly. Affordable housing is a real need, but the current approach—pushing high-density apartments on every available lot while destroying the scenic beauty and open spaces that define Sedona—is completely out of balance. I support “missing middle” housing: a thoughtful mix of single-family homes, duplexes, and triplexes, plus second-floor units above existing commercial spaces. At the same time, we must dramatically reduce the crushing city fees, permits, and sewer connection costs that, combined with overly complex building codes and mandates, can add $100,000 or more to the cost of building a modest home. We must also simplify the Land Development Code and add real flexibility so attainable and sustainable housing can actually get built. I will expand the underutilized down payment assistance program with deed restrictions to keep units for year-round residents, not short-term rentals.
Responsible growth also means ensuring that water, sewer, and other critical infrastructure keep pace with any development so existing residents are not burdened and our limited water resources are protected. Public safety is non-negotiable: I will prioritize wildfire risk reduction — including stronger defensible space requirements and vegetation management — along with improved emergency evacuation planning and routes to protect our community in times of crisis.
Additionally, there are troubling questions about the new Uptown parking garage compliance with fire protection requirements, and I will ensure that a citizen committee is established to work with Council, City staff, and the Sedona Fire District to identify any issues and ensure we have a safe, compliant structure.
“Preserving the Wonder” also means protecting our iconic red rock trails from trash, micro-trash, overuse, erosion, and unregulated OHV activity. I fully support programs like Keep Sedona Beautiful’s Micro-Trash Trail Team and Litter Lifters, and I will strengthen the City’s partnerships with them while scaling up enforcement. We should promote xeriscaping with native, drought-tolerant plants in public, commercial, and residential landscaping to steward our limited water resources. And I strongly support the new, more stringent dark-sky lighting ordinance, with proactive education and practical assistance to ensure high voluntary compliance.
These priorities are not campaign slogans—they are the concrete steps the Sedona Residents First team will take on Day One. We are committed to responsible growth that protects natural open spaces with any development, creates more pocket parks and community gardens, and ensures city government serves the people who actually live and work here.
Sedona’s residents deserve a Council that listens, delivers practical solutions, and restores trust. I respectfully ask for your support in the upcoming election. Join us in protecting the small-town character, natural wonder, and quality of life we all treasure.
I’m Rich Gay, and together—with the Residents First slate—we can keep Sedona special.
Rich Gay is a candidate for Sedona City Council.
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