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    Home » Democrats of the Red Rocks Holds 1st Candidate Forum
    City of Sedona

    Democrats of the Red Rocks Holds 1st Candidate Forum

    January 16, 2012No Comments3 Mins Read
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    Breakfast Offered at Forum

    Sedona. AZ (January 16, 2012) – January 19th! Doors open at 8:00 AM at the Olde Sedona Bar and Grill, 1407 W. SR89A. Program Begins at 8:30, Cost is $11 which includes breakfast and gratuities. Raffle. Please Let DORR know you are coming so we can tell the restaurant how many breakfasts to prepare. For reservations  call 203-5858 or email breakfast@democratsoftheredrocks.org

    Democrats of the Red Rocks will hold the first Mayoral and City Council Forum of 2012 at its January 19th  Breakfast at the Olde Sedona Bar and Grill. So far DORR’s is the only Candidate’s forum scheduled in January. At this writing  there are only two other forums scheduled.  One is hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, Main Street, and the Lodging Council (Feb 13th) and the other one is hosted by the League of Women Voters on Feb 16th.  Ballots go out beginning the week of February 16th for the March 13th election. All voting is by mail. There have been some problems in the past with receiving ballots, so if you don’t receive one by February 23rd you must immediately contact the Yavapai Recorders Office which is managing the election .

    All the candidates have agreed to come and speak at the DORR Breakfast Forum. Mayor Rob Adams is running unopposed, but five council candidates are vying for three city council spots; Mark DiNunzio, John Martinez, John D. Miller, Joe Vernier, and Jessica Williamson. Each candidate will have a few minutes to introduce themselves and talk about the goals of their campaign before beginning written questions from the audience. If time permits, the floor will be opened for questions directly from the audience. DORR board member Mike Cosentino from Cottonwood will MC the discussion. Everyone is welcome.  You don’t have to be a DORR member or even a Democrat or Independent. Bring a friend! Bring a contribution to the Sedona Food Bank!

    For those who can’t attend the forums the DORR Board’s Questionnaire has been sent. Two Candidates have responded so far. Results at:http://www.democratsoftheredrocks.org/DORR/question2012.php

    (1)What financial shape do you think City government is in? How thorough and informative are its financial reports? What does being fiscally responsible mean to you?

    (2)The city recently held community meetings to gather ideas from Sedona residents that resulted in 112 pages of suggestions. Among the suggestions — a recreation and/or senior center (like Cottonwood’s), a plaza or more community gathering spots, public art (murals, etc.), an art or natural history museum, community gardens, public transportation in neighborhoods, implement strategies to make Sedona more pedestrian friendly and to promote sustainability. What projects do you support?

    (3)As you know, Sedona will be voting on a new Community Plan in 2013. Have you attended any of the meetings held by the Steering Committee for the Plan? Have you read the existing Plan? What is your vision for Sedona in 2020 and beyond?

    (4) For current Council Members: I have voted in support of the NSA (National Scenic Area) proposal.____ I have voted against it._____

    (5)Reflecting on your background, experience and philosophy, what will you bring to the Council that is unique and dynamic?

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    Paid Political Ad Paid For by Samaire for Mayor
    Paid Political Ad for Samaire Armstrong
    Paid Political Announcement by Samaire For Mayor

     THE MOMENT IS UPON US

    Dear Sedona,

    The moment is upon us. The time for a united effort to shift the focus back to our community is now.

    The ability to thrive in our community, our environment, our workforce, and the tourist industry, is entirely possible because we have all the resources needed for success.

    Still, we need a council that isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions, that makes decisions based on data and facts, and through discussion, rather than moving and voting in group unison as they so regularly do.

    This is my home. I have been a part of the Sedona community for 28 years. I witnessed the road debacle, the lack of planning, the city circumventing the local businesses ability to thrive, while making choices to expand the local government and be in direct competition with private industry.

    I am a unique candidate because unlike the incumbents, I don’t believe the government should expand in size, nor in operations, nor would I attempt to micromanage every aspect of our community.

    City government should stay in its lane and allow the competitive market of local private industry to prosper. And it should defend our community from corporate takeover and infiltration of our town.

    I do not agree that we should sign onto International Building Codes and regulations by signing Sedona up to the ICC. It is imperative that we remain a sweet, rural community.

    Where are the arts? Where is this organic thriving element that we allege to be animated by. Where is our culture? Where is our community?

    The discord between the decision making process and the desires of the community have never been more clear. It has been nearly a decade in the making.

    It is time for a new era of energy to take charge. An energy that is reflective in the ability to succeed rather than be trapped in out of date consciousness.

    It has been a great honor meeting with each of you. I hear your concerns over the insane and out of control spending and I echo them. A budget of $105,000,000 in a town of 9700 residents is completely unacceptable. A parking structure (that looks like a shoe box) originally slated to cost 11 million, now projected to cost 18 million, is incomprehensible. Especially, considering there is no intention of charging for parking.

    For those who are concerned that I lack the political experience within our established system- that is precisely what Sedona needs… Not another politician, but instead a person who understands people, who listens to the voices within the community, and who will act in service on their behalf with accountability, for the highest good of Sedona. What I am not, will prove to be an asset as I navigate the entrenched bureaucracy with a fresh perspective. Business as usual, is over.

    Creative solutions require new energy.

    Every decision that is made by our local government, must contemplate Sedona first.

    • Does this decision benefit the residents?
    • Does this decision benefit the local businesses?
    • Does this decision actually help the environment?
    • Will this decision sustain benefit in the future, or will it bring more problems?

    What we have now is a city government that expands to 165 employees for 9700 residents. Palm Desert has 53,000 residents and 119 city employees. Majority of our city department heads are not even in town. I find this problematic.

    Efforts towards championing in and courting new solutions for our medical needs are imperative. We are losing our doctors. We must encourage competition with other facilities rather than be held hostage by NAH, who clearly have their own set of dysfunctions.

    We must remember that so many move to Sedona for its beauty, hiking, and small town charm. Bigger, faster, and more concrete does not, in broad strokes, fit the ethos of Sedona.

    The old world must remain strong here in balance, as that is what visitors want to experience. Too many have noted that Sedona has lost its edge and charm.

    As Mayor I will preserve the rural charm of our community, and push back against the urbanization that is planned for Sedona.

    As mayor I will make it a priority to create opportunities to support our youth.  After school healthy, enriching programs should be created for our kids, and available to the Sedona workforce regardless of residency and regardless of school they belong to.

    As Mayor, I will create an agenda to deliberately embody the consciousness of our collective needs here, allowing private industry to meet the needs of our community rather than bigger government.

    I hope to have your vote on Aug 2nd. I am excited and have the energy to take on this leadership role with new eyes, community perspective, and the thoughtful consciousness that reflects all ages of the human spectrum.

    Thank you deeply for your consideration.

    Sincerely,

    Samaire Armstrong

    Sedona elections
    Armstrong vs. Jablow: The Main Event
    Ready to Rumble

    By Tommy Acosta
    In the Blue Corner stands Scott Jablow and in the Red Corner of the ring stands Samaire Armstrong, ready to rumble to the bitter end in their fight to become the next Sedona mayor. Jablow weighs in with 1,137 primary election votes (36.13%) under his belt, having wielded his advantage as sitting Sedona City Council vice-mayor to his favor. He brings his years of serving in that capacity into the fray and waged a solid fight in his campaign to make it to the run-off. Armstrong, however withstood a blistering smear campaign from the other opposing candidates and their supporters to make it to the final bout with 967 votes under her belt (30.73%), an amazing feat for a political newcomer. Unfortunately, for the other two candidates, Kurt Gehlbach and sitting mayor Sandy Moriarty, neither put up enough of a fight to make it to the championship bout. Read more→
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