By Steve Segner
Sedona needs leadership grounded in community experience — not retired executives new to town.
Sedona attracts many talented and successful new residents who want to become involved in local politics. That interest is welcome. But like any profession, public service requires time, experience, and an understanding of how local government actually works.
Government is not the same as running a private business. It operates within legal frameworks, Arizona open meeting laws, budgeting requirements, transportation planning, regional partnerships, and public processes that exist for good reason. Effective local leadership comes from understanding those systems and participating in them over time.
The idea that Sedona is somehow “broken” and needs to be rescued is simply false. Candidates for City Council who make that claim are not being honest and realistic.
Sedona has nearly paid off its water treatment plant. The city maintains strong financial reserves, has no city property tax, and benefits from a steady stream of visitor-generated tax revenue that supports local services. We now have a world-class transportation system, a new parking structure, and extensive public participation in major projects and planning efforts.
The mayor of Sedona is not a CEO. The mayor, one of seven council members, has very limited independent authority. In fact, the mayor cannot even place an item on the agenda without support from another council member. The day-to-day work of the city government is carried out by professional staff under the direction of the city manager.
We need leaders already connected to the community — people who understand Sedona’s history, its neighborhoods, its volunteer culture, its advisory boards, nonprofits, commissions, and ongoing public discussions.
If someone truly wants to serve Sedona, the first step should be involvement: serve on committees, attend transportation meetings, volunteer with community organizations, participate in public workshops, and learn how local and state government actually function.
These conversations have been happening publicly for years. Transportation planning, shuttle systems, employee parking, circulation, and visitor management have all been discussed extensively through SIM committees, advisory groups, merchant meetings, and public hearings. Anyone actively engaged in the community would already know this.
I have attended these meetings for years and have not seen most of the candidates on the “slate” participate in those discussions, including the new candidate for Mayor.
Sedona already has nearly $100 million in reserves and investments. We do not need someone from outside the process to arrive and explain how the city should manage itself. Sedona is functioning well, and public input is ongoing every day.
What we need are leaders who have already done the homework.
Get involved. Serve the community. Learn the issues. Understand the process before asking voters to hand over the mayor’s or city council seats.