Sedona AZ 2023 Mayoral Election
By Samaire Armstrong
Dear Community:
Our sweet hometown now stands at the precipice of having to decide whether to continue along its path towards urbanization, overcrowding, overspending and losing our character, or moving into the future with fresh ideas and a sense of purpose guiding us to a new tomorrow.
We have seen what the last ten years of unimaginative thinking and lack of will have brought to our city. Never more than now is change needed.
My opponent wishes to cling to the past and continue with failed policies that now threaten the very existence of the Sedona we know and love.
These policies must be stopped and the only way to do it is to defeat the Vice-Mayor in the mayoral election by voting him out of office, thereby changing the trajectory of our city. We must now move from one of ineffective and politically motivated actions to one where our future will bring Sedona back to the beauty and magnificence it once embodied.
Consider this. Those who wish to keep the city on the same path it has been following for the last decade are like golfers who practice and practice the same flawed swing but never improve their game.
Try as they might, they are doomed to repetitive failure until they learn how to properly swing the club, something my opponent has not been able to do.
My opponents continue with their desperate attempts to besmirch me and attack my former political affiliations.
They forget that this is America, and everyone has a God-given right to express their political beliefs without being attacked for them.
My opponents are trying to divide the community into different political factions, meaning pitting Republicans and Democrats, Liberals and Conservatives against each other.
Division is the last thing Sedona needs now in facing the realities of a rapidly changing political and socio-economical landscape. Inclusion, not division, is what’s necessary.
If we erase political labels and focus on what members of any party really want, we establish a commonality all can relate to.
Regardless of our political affiliation or stance, there are certain needs and hopes shared by all that bring us together rather than foment division.
We all want a safe community and world to live in. We all want a good education for our children. We all want excellent health care. We all want a decent wage.
We all want peace in the world. We all want enough food on the table to feed our families. We all want financial security. We all want to be strong and healthy. We all want to preserve our environment.
And last but not least, we all want a beautiful and vibrant Sedona.
These ideals are what unite us. Not divide us. And united, we can face the future with confidence that we will overcome every challenge our city now faces.
Together we can work to find a truly viable solution to our parking problems, our short-term rental challenges, our workforce housing dilemma and unbridled corporate expansion, to name a few.
Beware of those who spew hate. They are driven by anger and the desperation of knowing that their days of making wrong choices for the city are numbered. There is a new awareness and hope waiting for our Sedona once they are removed from making policy decisions that hurt our city.
We cannot allow fear or hatred to guide us.
Love, compassion, consciousness and a passion to do good and make our city greater than before are what we need to put us back on track and create an environment where locals and tourists alike can co-exist in a peaceful and mutually productive environment.
We must also remember that Sedona belongs to all seeking beauty, healing, and spiritual fulfillment. We as Sedonan’s are its stewards, not owners.
Reject the past and embrace the future. We cannot go on walking the path our leaders have walked the last decade. They call for change when they are the very thing that needs to be changed. That is the truest form of hypocrisy.
As Mayor, I represent all the people of Sedona, regardless of partisan views. I do not care who you voted for in 2020. My opponent encourages divisiveness and proudly supports one party over another.
As Mayor and a single mom, I will fight for your children to have a great education, great school choices, great after-school programs, and a safe place for their activities. My opponent oversaw 8 years of a shrinking population, families leaving, displaced children who had to find a new school location, and an understaffed police department.
As Mayor and a businesswoman in the film industry, I will fight for local businesses to thrive, innovate and grow their dreams into a successful business that employs others, supports families, and contributes to our community. My opponent oversaw a significant loss of local businesses in Sedona due to draconian bureaucracy and good ‘ole boy politics.
As Mayor, I will tell the residents the truth so they can make decisions that benefit them and their families. My opponent pays for lobbyists, studies and surveys that fit his narrative and then promises results that never get delivered.
As Mayor, I will never be a politician. I will work to unite our community, be a passionate advocate for Sedona and our community, a supportive partner to local agencies and cities we share our sacred land with, and ALWAYS stand up for Sedona! My opponent is lifelong bureaucrat who was never accountable for his actions and votes and blames everyone else for our problems
As Mayor, I will stop Sedona from becoming another California and preserve our rural, sacred heritage.
To bring real change to our city there is only one way to achieve it – vote for me and I will make it happen.
VOTE FOR SAMAIRE ARMSTRONG FOR SEDONA MAYOR
*The Above is A Paid Political Announcement*
Visit SamaireForMayor.com for more information. Visit www.sedonareset.org
This is an advertisement
43 Comments
As a city we certainly cannot continue down the road we have been traveling over the last 8 to 10 years.
In the advertisement above I couldn’t help but notice the advertiser condemned her opponent for attacking her and then went on to attack him. I didn’t read any policy proposals and, rather than attack the governor for his policies that paved the way for the short-term rental fiasco, she blames her opponent. Where would the affordable housing be built? How would the short-term rental problem be solved? How would children be better educated? Would there be a grocery tax to offset rising infrastructure expenditures? Today’s political climate seems based solely on the blame game. Who is really to blame for inflation? I’m old enough to remember waiting in line for what seemed like an eternity for my $10 ration of gas (I can’t recall if my plate was an odd or even number). I remember unemployment being close to double digits. I remember eating potted meat and day-old bread while managing a national retail shoe chain because of high food costs and low wages. I remember when my high school finally integrated. Those of us old enough to recall living through those times surely want to educate our children and grandchildren on how life has improved over the years, while telling the truth about corporate greed and the lack of stewardship of our planet for a fistful of dollars. At the rate we are going, there won’t be an earth for the meek to inherit. – and I am just as much to blame.
Hey Thom, A cursory understanding of the article above shows Samaire Armstrong pointing out that Jablow has stooped to partisan attacks, not policy discussions. All of his “hit pieces” in the mailers he sends out are similar, one going so far as to condemn a non-public servant for not attending a past council meeting which can be viewed live or delayed online. Sedona residents have clearly voted out the current Mayor due to policy, not personality. Jablow’s only possible attack is now personality since he voted in lockstep with his rubberstamp approval of every vote the then Mayor took. That is the discussion Sedona is having and will continue to have until Sedona policies are not California policies. The trash talk is beneath the voters, Jablow just doesn’t understand that, yet.
Thanks, Mary for your response. I was, perhaps unsuccessfully, trying to point out that saying your opponent is attacking you is a response I would appreciate if in a few breaths later you didn’t resort to attacking them. Pointing fingers from either side is something I can’t get behind. Tell me how you will solve problems and let me decide if that is a direction I can support. Thanks again for your perspective.
Of course it’s a partisan election just look at her website and her Trump T-shirts and her political stance. Ask where the hundred thousand dollars she received came from ,didn’t come from sedona came from other areas do you know why they want to conservative Anti-government mayor in place. Let’s be honest she only went to high school. we can do better
It is no secret that politically, you play dirty and you are stretching the point that you actually live in Sedona.
Maybe Samaire raised more money than Jablow but she spent 90 percent of that money locally while Scott spent more than 50 percent of what he raised outside of Sedona, according to the Red Rock News. Of course she knows what she will be up against when she gets elected but we who support her believe she will persuade by reason and logic gain the support of her fellow council members and the public. Besides her, there will be three more councilors. That makes four, for a new majority. Your days as a king-maker are coming to a halt.
Steve, it was none other than yourself who plastered those partisan photos all over Sedona in hopes of making it a partisan election. You are the dirtiest player in all of this to the point of having an entire editorial written about your political corruption, even if the editor never mentioned you by name. You didn’t even support Jablow in the primary! Probably for the same reasons Sandy did not trust him to take her place, so ran again herself. Jablow is a follower, not a leader. His policies will run residents out of town. This election is about the vision for Sedona not about the partisan politics you have resorted to in order to hide your vision for Sedona. As for her campaign donations, anyone can easily see that they came from locals by reviewing the campaign contribution filings. Your entire post is just more dirty politics trying to scare people away from one candidate instead of touting the policies of your own candidate. People here in Sedona want a Mayor in place who won’t transfer our wealth to a bureaucracy and ever-expanding government payroll but rather use her vote to keep the City Manager in check. The last thing we need is a Jablow rubberstamp of the City Manager’s skyrocketing budget and plans to hire ever more government employees.
she lost !
If our brilliant Sedona city manager manages to double the budget in the next four years as she did under Ja blow’s fine tooth comb budget management in the last 4 years Sedona will be done.
There is always a bright side, when Sedona goes broke during the coming depression, we will know who to blame. I find ghost towns charming. Sedona will be one.
Samaire will not be the one to blame. Sometimes you win by losing.
All the greedy real estate investors will go broke too. How sad. Karma always wins !
You really have no clue about Karma, or the powers of the mayor….Its a shame your allowed to vote…But you are and thanks for humiliating yourself in public….Thank You for your honesty.
Awww. West Sedona Dave, or is it Karen?
Did I hurt you widdle feewings when I pointed out the city budget has doubled over the last 4 years?
Two of those years were during the Corona scam?
I bet remote work with a city manager car allowance was hard to swallow huh? I’m sure the car allowances were returned to the city. Every scam ends . Sometimes with a silver bullet.
“Let’s be honest she only went to high school. we can do better” says Stevie Segner who literally dropped out of high school. (From his Facebook page: “About Steve. 61 Year old High School Drop Out/Entrepreneur /Innkeeper.”)
Don’t take any advice from someone who couldn’t even graduate high school in the 1950s.
Uh-oh, Stevie Segner is caught in a lie.
“Ask where the hundred thousand dollars she received came from ,didn’t come from sedona ” it sure as shit did. She got $84K total, $71K of it from Sedona. http://www.redrocknews.com/2022/10/27/sedona-mayoral-campaigns-report-donors-spending-in-latest-financial-disclosures/
Figures he can’t even read campaign finance records. Fact check it here https://www.sedonaaz.gov/your-government/departments/city-clerk/elections-information/campaign-finance-reports/-folder-5343
sedona dot biz should fact check segner’s lies once in a while
You do realize it’s Jablow and Co.–not Armstrong–who are pushing the high-density affordable housing right?
Hi Thom, not sure I understand your comments completely.
Ms. Armstrong has had a strong position, multiple times on ADUs (Casitas) for the city to allow the utilities in them necessary so people could rent these places out long term. Under building code you cannot have a stove etc. in a guest house. City has to change the code. That’s like moving a mountain. Shouldn’t be.
She has also promoted land lease form the city to developers at almost zero cost, where city retains ownership, but can control through contract the type of structure and restrictions. Exactly what the Airport does for the hanger owners, 50 years at almost no cost. Not a new concept and keeps city out of the housing business, which they have no business being in. City already has too much property it owns. Plus the Dells, 6 miles down 89A is a huge piece of city land.
The governor signed the STR bill, for a better name. The governor did not write it, legislature writes bills. And legislator contacts I had at the time said the cities wanted the bill, as all they could see were additional dollars. I do not know if Sedona had the lobbied them. But many AZ cities did. And now they are running away form it, and are wanting changes.
Ms. Armstrong is exactly right in laying the housing shortage mess in the lap of her opponent, and EVERY council member that voted to change the city ordinance that limited rentals to a 30 day minimum to zero. It was not necessary, and could have prevented the destruction of our city and the wiping out of neighborhoods. An estimated 1400 STRs now, generating 5 to 9 trips a day to and from on our streets.
The potential conflict with the state? Loss of state revenue, around $4 million at the time. Stop funding the chamber, get rid of CAP and Sustainability and you almost cover the loss and could have saved the city. Short sighted thinking from a bunch of amateurs that did not pay attention to the resident’s needs. Did the council, including her opponent request the hiring of outside professional legal help? They order countless studies from all kinds of consultants, and the most important decision in the history of Sedona they leave to a second rate city attorney and a City Manager that prided himself in manipulating the council.
Time for some things to happen – we already dumped two councilors in August, 1 to go. Can zoning be reversed? Yes, painful and time consuming, but not with this bunch.
There is only one thing that causes inflation – too much money in the system and not enough goods or services. Bad money policy from the Fed and especially this White House – economics 101. Remember the good ole days of 2019 at less than 2%.
The goals and how to get there have been provided. The answer is not scarring our town with roads, more studies and paving our way into a metropolitan utopia.
Want more details, go to Ms. Armstrong’s website, give her a call. And ask her about her citizen input plan, already used in the state. Unlike the current council that will give you three minutes then cut you up with no ability to respond, 9764 people could have a say, easily, if council really wanted to listen. And calling a guy on his personal cell phone don’t cut it, unless you want a therapist.
And please remember, three or more past councilors and at least one ex mayor have reached out to assist Ms. Armstrong to get started, not to mention numerous business people, residents of all kinds with past and current expertise in various fields. Remember, NONE of them, not ANY politician had experience their first day in office. If they have the right vision, the energy and the residents at heart – AND the knowledge to know what they don’t know to achieve their objectives, you will have a leader.
http://www.sedonareset.org
Mr. Schroeder (Charles or Michael) before your name began popping up in support of Armstrong, I was impressed by what I thought I knew, and most likely going to vote for her but now that I know you’re in her corner, NO WAY!
I’m guessing that you thought using “Charles” would throw people off the scent, but old-timers know how toxic “Michael” has been in our community for the past 20 years. Now my eyes and ears are wide open when I think how odd that a high school graduate and an unemployed Hollywood starlet would know all of that technical lingo on her own. Of course not, now we know that you’ve probably been feeding her any and all information. I see the ads in your name and the hatchet job website you probably sponsored and made. We can see you wrote the biggest check the law allows to her campaign.
You thought you knew it all four years ago when you ran for the fire board along with your buddies, Russ and Dwight, on a mission to severely cut its budget. But that didn’t work out well for you, did it?
We all remember how you chased Fire Chief Kazian out of town. He was a nice man that you relentlessly bullied until he couldn’t take anymore and moved. If anyone doesn’t believe me, go and look up Kazian’s parting words that appeared in the newspaper.
You thought you knew it all about the street lights proposed to be installed by ADOT on Highway 89A and tried like heck to stop the lights even though people were killed by cars driving on the dark road. Why were you against the streetlights? Could it have been because you didn’t want the lights to disturb your view from your observatory on top of your mountaintop mega-mansion house? You lost that battle too!
Almost twenty years ago you lead the charge to convert Highway 179 from an old deteriorated two-lane road to what we have today; a nice looking $100 million dollar two-lane road. And now we’re stuck with that traffic that everyone complains about. If you don’t believe me, go look up “Voice of Choice” in the Red Rock News and see who the leaders of the two-lane movement were. Thanks, Mike!
So now I’m sitting back thinking, why would Mike Schroeder be financially and politically backing an 18-month resident and political neophyte like Armstrong when the light went off in my head: you’re on the Airport’s management Board. We all know that the airport wants to make every decision about what businesses are built on the airport and have challenged the city when it has expressed its jurisdiction of such decisions. Does the airport’s desire to see a big event venue built at the airport, a big party house have anything to do about your support of Armstrong? They’ve been a few stories in the news that the city has been putting up a good fight challenging the merits of building this event venue. Does your support of Armstrong becoming Sedona’s Mayor has anything to do with it? I wonder.
Before any of you reading this take any potshots at me; do your research first, and you’ll see I’m right. You think this is an election about a spirited newby candidate wanting to be mayor when it sure looks like it’s Mike’s way of gaining power and trying to steer Sedona in some conservative, anti-government direction. We all know the wealthy think they know what’s best for the rest of us. I sure hope this election sends a message that even a lot of money and big ads can’t get an unqualified person elected Mayor of this city.
BOOM, Wally you got all of that one. Yep you have the exact info and truth on Mr. Schroeder.
It is so sad to have such wealth, and to waist it the way he does. You cant take it with you go but sure could do things to make the world a better place. Why people want dont want to improve Sedona? Telling workers they should live 30 miles away. But the new Conservative is now nothing but the cruelty. Owning the Libs. Being hatful, and rude, not helping the 99% or the less fortunate. Thank you Wally
Oh come on Wally. Just admit you are jealous of Mr. Schroeder. I’ll bet you are not worth a fraction of what he is or the contributions he has made in making this world a better place. He is involved and he cares and he is doing everything to rectify the errors of the previous and present councils. Guys like you can throw bricks but you will never reach the altitude guys like him fly at. At most, the bricks will fall back down and hit you on your head. The city needs a fresh face and Armstrong is it. I hope that light you claim that went off in your head did not fry your brain.
Naomi, not in the least. He’s the puppet master and she’s…. well, you know the rest. Why isn’t Samarie standing up for herself?? It’s obvious that Schroeder and the paperboy like to speak half-truths in her defense. I’ve been at her events and all she has is generalizations, no facts. Yeah, Schroeder, we all know that ADUs are quick to become vacation rentals so either you don’t know what the heck you’re talking about or talking out both sides of your mouth.
Are you a misogynist? Certainly appears so.
Frankly there isn’t a thing you said that was accurate or true, but not wasting time. I’ll let you drown in your obsession. Living in your head is pretty interesting.
Oh Contraire Charles Michael, I’ve been in Sedona far longer than you have and I remember that every word of what was said about you and your projects in Sedona is absolutely true.
Well said ,seems now politicians just make promises. She has no actual knowledge of how Sedona works or state regulations. The mayor has no intrinsic power except to run the meeting. But yeah she’s going to fix everything just like Trump did.
I liked the $2 gas, 1.5% inflation, energy independence, no wars, border almost under control, and rising wages. But who would want that.
And why would anybody listen to Segner, who isn’t a resident of Sedona and should not be voting in Sedona elections according to Arizona registration law.
In Sedona we have up to 1400 Short Term Rentals destroying our city character no thanks to Scott Jablow and the majority of the city council who killed our 30 day mininum stay rental ordinance. Not to mention a budget that went from $48 million to $105 million in 4 years that Scott voted for. And a shuttle system that ignored local transportation businesses. The list goes on……
http://Www.sedonareset.org
No CHARLES MICHAEL SCHROEDER, you can blame Jablow all you want but let’s zoom out a bit more and look at YOUR GOVERNOR AND HIS LEGISLATURES who supported him, THEY really are the ones to blame for the vacation rentals. We all know that you are an election denier. Even when 45 was the Prez gas wasn’t $2 a gallon, IT’S ALL SMOKE AND MIRRORS with you isn’t it??
Well said, Samaire! I also really appreciate your understanding of the role of the World Economic Forum and UN Agenda 2030 in influencing local communities to follow their controlling elite agendas, which include many things most of us would not really want if we understood them. (“you will own nothing and be happy”). Add to that your stance about defending the sovereign freedoms of each of us when it comes to personal decisions about masks, medical injections, etc.
Most of all, I appreciate your intentions towards unity, community and preserving the sacred aspects of Sedona that we have all witnessed disappearing due to a drive towards urbanization and tourism. All blessings to you and your campaign. Thank you for running.
PS, readers: I was a lifelong Democrat until the Covid times, when I saw how much they and the public health establishment disrespected our freedoms and constitution, but also actual science and debate, imposing tyrannical mandates and censorship like we would never have guessed could come to thus country. These are times that call us to step outside of our divisive tribal identifications and labels and take a good long look at what is going on in the world today, as well as Sedona.
Ms Armstrong has mentioned several times in her campaign writings, and also in the above one, she would like to see the City of Sedona support after-school programs for our young children. For the past two academic years West Sedona School has been offering just that. Children from Kindergarten through the 5th grade can stay after school up until 6:00 pm and attend well organized activities supervised by a certified teacher. This amazing program is free of charge and allows the parents of these children to put in a full day of work. This program is fully supported through the generous contributions from the community. Ms. Armstrong is aware this program exists, yet has been calling for the City of Sedona to provide after-school programs for the private and Charter schools in our community. Perhaps Ms. Armstrong does not know the Sedona Oak Creek School District, who oversees the after-school program, is a separate entity from the City of Sedona.
Exactly she has no idea on how the city fire department county government operating.
If she’s elected she’ll be one of seven City council members. Her only responsibility will be to run the meeting. She cannot even put something on the agenda. Wake up Sedona you’re in for a slow motion auto wreck
I appreciate the many residents of Sedona who have engaged with me during this Mayoral campaign,
not only supporting the vision I have laid out but contrasting me with my opponent who has her vision
of Sedona but no plans. As we say in the West, “All hat, no cattle”.
None of us are the same as we were 20 or 30 years ago, nor is Sedona. We cannot always control what
bills a Governor signs nor can we control the size of the Phoenix metropolitan area and its proximity to
Sedona. I have a positive vision of Sedona and for Sedona and I don’t cling to the past as my opponent
does. The “sweet hometown” my opponent recalls from her high school days here is clinging to the past
and does not allow forward movement with policies that enhance our life now and preserve our
environment for the future.
In clear contrast to my opponent, I offer a Vision, and most importantly, concrete steps to attain that
Vision, more of which can be seen on my website, electscottmayor.com:
Continue collaborating with a resident-driven task force to explore alternatives should Northern
Arizona Healthcare reduces service levels to our community or not provide adequate levels of
service
Enhancing our relationships with existing healthcare partners such as Verde Valley Caregivers to
better support our healthcare needs
Working with the other Verde Valley cities and towns to develop a regional approach
Soliciting more public input before major projects are developed to enhance transparency and
give a greater voice to our residents
Returning local control over short-term rentals so we can cap their numbers in Sedona
Regulating short-term rentals to the extent the law allows
Working with both sides of the aisle in the Legislature for meaningful legislation to mitigate STR
impacts
Working with the Forest Service to create limited access in areas being destroyed by OHVs and
overuse
Working with State and Federal Legislatures to eliminate street use of OHVs, lower sound limits,
and increase fines for habitat destruction
Adding sidewalks and other pedestrian improvements such as Shared Use Paths to increase
safety for walking and biking
Constructing “lock and leave” lots at the outer edges of Sedona, with additional transit, stops so
visitors reduce vehicle trips and improve traffic congestion
We all want a safe, friendly, and welcoming community that embraces our residents, children and
grandchildren, workers, and yes, even visitors. I am proud of my record. I ask you to look at the
accomplishments we have made for Sedona and compare those with the ideals, not ideas, of my
opponent. The choice is stark and it is yours.
Hey Scott, I heard you at the last debate agreeing with someone that your opponent was “bat shit crazy”, when I turned around and asked you about what you just agreed with you were furious and told me I was listening in on your conversation. I then told you I heard you both talking loud as I passed right in front of you. I then told you how disrespectful and unprofessional you were. You keep attacking a WOMAN! Yet won’t answer for your RECORD of voting with the Council in 2017 to change Sedona’s Zoning law ELIMINATING the 30 DAY MININIMAL RENTAL which led to a lack of housing! You NEVER DEMANDED outside legal council but keep on hiring more Consultants and studies! Scott you’re a lifelong government beurocrat and have never known what it is to create or own a business. I and many others moved from Blue States that have implemented many of these same rediculous policies of the fake Climate Action Plan which has only served to destroy my home state of California and increase the costs of living for every day hard working families. Shame on you Scott and shame on the City Council for putting the residents of Sedona in this mess. I and many others look forward to voting for Samaire Armstrong for Mayor! BTW stop the Mysoginy toward a single mom.
This is a cheap shot and once again speaks to your character! You campaigning on Samaire’s Advertorial is lame! Pay for your own ad!
Do you have amnesia? Your transportation policies are a joke! You pretend to have no responsibility for the OHV problem! You have put tourists ahead of residents at every turn! Your solution to the housing shortage was to give money to a developer to build apartments! Millions of dollars spent on “shared use paths” create the opposite of safety, like bikes and pedestrians are ever a good idea! Your free trail shuttles force hikers to drive past the trailhead and closer to the center of town!
You’re proud of your record?! You want us to believe you haven’t been part of every single problem in Sedona? Then publish your voting record or at least prove you haven’t been a rubber stamp for Sandy, show us where you disagreed.
If you’ve been collaborating with locals this past 8 years, why is it your new vision for the future to collaborate with locals?
Does anyone else recognize the hypocrisy?
“As we say in the West, “All hat, no cattle”.”????
Really??? Jabliar much?
Like West Long Island New York? Or the West you moved to as a tourist 10 years ago after 60 years in the largest city in the United States on the EAST COAST?
There’s an old Pace commercial from the 1980s, that aired when you were still Back East, reading about the real west. In it cowboys react to a fake cowboy with bad picante from … New York City! That sums you up, perfectly. Stop pretending to be from here.
Samaire it sounds great. Everyone wants the same thing and always has. The tricky part is how do we get there?
You offer NOTHING as to how you would make this happen. The devil’s in the details.
Sedona’s economy was hard hit by the pandemic, not the current administration… as a matter of fact, all those Airbnb’s have brought a huge boom to the town financially, even though there have been seriously undesirable consequences.
So make up your mind, or better yet, take a look at the reality we’re in and try to come up with some practical, working solutions instead of idealistic, new age garbagio.
Lastly, you say want everyone to love each other and find solutions regardless of political leanings… And then you go and attack your opponents. .
Peggy, Have you seen the “hit pieces” Jablow sent out with his “Approval” printed right on the mailers? Dirty politics, partisan politics, no policy discussions just negative, negative, negative, smears. The problem Jablow has is that the policies he rubberstamped over the past 8 years are exactly what residents voted out of office in Mayor Sandy. This election is exactly about the Vision for Sedona. If you want it to be California, Jablow is your man. If residents don’t want California to be the Vision of Sedona, Samaire Armstrong is your only option. That is why Jablow stoops to smear a campaign. And his smears aren’t just about his opponent but all voters who have a different vision than he does. A poorly run campaign if Vision is the goal.
Peggy, Ms. Armstrong has offered multiple ideas and details. And she has the backing of many business leaders and past councilors to help her implement those ideas. I hear all the time the statement that there is no meat in her visions, and that simply is not true.
What is true is that Mr. Jablow has had 8 years to pound the table and be a leader, and NOW is the time? A budget that is out of control, $105 million, up from $49 million in 2018 (with a loss of 300 people over 10 years) Sedona is DYING – not growing, ignoring local transportation companies, over $30 million to the Chamber over 10 years and the list goes on.
Now all of a sudden, promises appear, meetings, resident involvement and “gonna do” ideas? All magical – does not take 8 years to do this unless you are just along for the ride. THAT takes hard work.
If there is ONE reason not to put Jablow in as mayor, is the Tlaquepaque pedestrian nightmare that causes the majority of the backups in the most congested part of town. The under bridge walkway on 179, a major part of the solution. It had a completion date of 2019. Then 2020, and Mr. Vice Mayor said it would be done this year. The plans are on the city website with the completion dates for all to see. Anyone see any guys out there in hard hats building anything?
During that time they have successfully screwed up the traffic in Uptown – now going to plan another fix for their mistake, and put a permanent scar on the side of Sedona with the Forest Road extension, devaluing many properties and destroying the views and peaceful tranquility of many residents.
Enough of the promises already. We have three new councilors – why would we want more of the last 10 years when a new Mayor and New council can give us a new start.
http://www.sedonareset.org
Hey Peggy S.. good for you… hugs Liberty L…
Thank you, Peggy I agree. I watched both debates and Armstrong says nothing but words.
The choice in this election could not be clearer; continue on the path of urbanization with Jablow or protect everything that makes Sedona so desirable with Armstrong. If Sedona continues on its present course, it won’t be long before the beautiful vistas are blocked or blemished by parking garages and high-density housing.
Further, it amazes me that people keep parroting the argument that Armstrong has no plan or policy. That’s a political attack from Team Jablow that has no basis in reality. If you can’t see her vision, then you’ve been blinded by rhetoric.
Finally, it’s no coincidence that families have been forced out of Sedona in favor of retirees from California and New York. Of course, there’s nothing at all wrong with retiring here, nor is there anything wrong with moving here from CA and NY. The problem is that, for the past decade or more, this city’s white-haired council has adopted policies that favor tourists and snow-bird retirees at the expense of everyone else. In other words, Sedona needs balance, and Armstrong would be an excellent step in the right direction.
I’ve read the above article and heard Samaire speak at her events and mayoral debates. One of the reasons I favor her is because she is community-driven. She is in favor of expanding a community center, which is far too small for our town, creating space for kids to go to since the council’s inaction led to Sedona’s teen center closing. From a conservative budget standpoint, I also value Samaire’s approach to cut back on such a robust, large-scale in a tiny town millions of dollars transportation system.
Samaire, as mayor , you will be the much needed “ conscience” of the City Council. You will remind them who they are serving and reach out to residents for input and encourage their service in all aspects. Thanks for stepping up for this task and for saving Sedona !
Jablow has been a part of failed policies for 8 years, like all failed politicians he says things are different now . If you fall for Jablow’s BS you deserve what you get, good and hard.
Sedona needs balance, families, children, a community. Jablow has only encouraged day trippers and vacation rentals. Jablow didn’t pass the vacation rental law, but he also did nothing to stop it.
Whoever you vote I’d like to thank Sedona biz for the articles and well thought out comments from most people here. What a complete 180 from the the complaining and nonsense comments associated with the other Sedona blog SE they actually call a online newspaper. LOL
I just open my eyes and see a different Sedona with congestion, more garbage and multi-million dollar parking lots kind of being built. I like the old Sedona. A clean city and a city with long summers and order. What is wrong with that vision? Progress is not progressing to be San Francisco. I embrace Armstrong’s fight to pushback so-called progress. If progress is giant parking lots, more tourists, construction of multiple housing units , giant real estate developers investing in Sedona, and so on ….. if this is progress …. Give me Armstrong!
Equating Armstrong with Trump is so identity politics, so lazy minded and so tiresome that I can’t pay attention to this Biden – Trump dance. It’s ridiculous.
Armstrong does not care if you are with the Democratic Party, the Republican Party or the Birthday Party. She wants to stop urbanization not salvaging the culture and history of Sedona as a family friendly town. That is her message. I like her message and when you mock her vision you mock my vision.
Now Scott is a fine man. A wonderful public servant. Thank you Scott for your unselfishness.
But it time to stop all the so called growth. That growth builds for the few not the many. Lobbyists, expanded size of the City Manager’s Office …. Sedona does not need this picture. We will lose the City and the natural wonders of this blessed environment.
It’s time. Armstrong for Mayor. I am not giving my name because the zealots in this conversation will paint me as a Trumpster or stereotype me negatively because my gut tells me this beautiful single mom has the right direction .
I wish I could vote for both candidates but I cannot.
Samaria Armstrong is what Sedona needs right now.