By Sedona Mayoral Candidate Henry Silbiger.
Sedona, AZ — I’m running for mayor because Sedona deserves leadership that listens, acts, and stays true to its roots. My platform is simple: put residents first, protect our small-town character, and make sure every decision reflects the people who live here — not a bureaucratic agenda. That means transparency, accountability, fiscal discipline, and limited government that empowers private initiative and safeguards our quality of life.
I was born in Toruń, Poland, and when the Russians began closing the borders in 1956, my parents made the choice to leave our home behind. We arrived in the United States in 1960, and I became a proud American citizen in 1966. Like every immigrant family, we had to start from scratch — and those early years taught me resilience, gratitude, and the value of the dollar by working hard.
Over the decades, my career took me from public service to entrepreneurship and eventually to helping American companies navigate a changing global economy. I’ve worked with people across the country as well as around the world, and through it all, I’ve carried the same principles: honesty, responsibility, and a belief that opportunity is something you earn every day.
After retiring, I eventually found my way to Sedona — a place that immediately felt like home. The landscape, the community, and the small‑town character spoke to me in a way few places ever have. My wife Kimberly and I built our home in West Sedona. We’re grateful to be part of a community that values its people, its beauty, and its way of life.
That’s the Sedona I’m committed to serving and these are the major issues we must focus on.
Transparency
Residents need information before any major decision is made NOT after a decision is made.
City Council and Mayor allow the city manager and staff to run the show without regard to decisions already made by Council.
Parking garage
1. Pitched as solution for employees who would have free parking.
2. It ran millions over budget, so the city manager proposed parking fees to fund.
3. Obviously parking fees won’t offset the costs to build.
4. Council ONLY agreed to move forward if it would be funded by user fees.
5. Staff couldn’t prove it so they didn’t answer and we are building the garage.
6. Council did nothing.
Fiscal responsibly
- Current projects. Need to understand why they were done costs, bid process, and why costs skyrocketed.
- New proposed projects need to make sure we are doing the right thing: Is the project a need or a want.
- Review the cost of running the city with its current employees. now close to 200 for a city of 9,500 residents.
- Limit spending on expensive consultants for current and future projects.
- Expose how the office of city manager selectively controls the flow of information to the Mayor/ Council to achieve desired outcomes.
- Demand the manager at proposed future projects conform to what residents actually want.
When revenue rises, spending tends to rise with it. The real driver of today’s fiscal imbalance is spending on entitlement programs (such as employee benefits) whose costs grow automatically.
Traffic
We need to have an honest and thorough evaluation of the Sedona in Motion (SIM) program. After 8 years and $40,000,000 spent, Traffic is still an issue. Review previous options presented and rejected by city Council, Stop spending on ineffective programs.
Arts and Culture: why people come here.
- Revive the arts community
- More festivals
- Keep trails beautiful
- Stop unneeded construction of multi-level high density apartments…
You voted for them. We must stop the council from telling us what we must do.
Let’s get back to what makes Sedona special. Together we can make the necessary changes.
Please visit my website to learn about my platform as well the other candidates on the slate. If you want to change the direction of the city and give the residents a genuine choice about our future.