Sedona, AZ — The ballots have been counted, the speeches delivered, and campaign signs will soon disappear from our roadsides. But long after the election is over, the decisions made by Sedona voters on July 21 will continue shaping this community for years to come.
This was never simply a contest between personalities. It was an election about trust, priorities, and whether City Hall has been listening to its citizens.
Mayor-elect Brian Fultz defeated Henry Silbiger by a relatively narrow margin, receiving 1,698 votes (52.25%) to Silbiger’s 1,549 (47.66%). On the City Council, Jean-Christophe Buillet, Tony Hauserman, and incumbent Melissa Dunn secured the three available seats, while Rich Gay narrowly missed election despite receiving 1,628 votes. Lita Loesch Boyd finished fifth.
Although the margins were not overwhelming, they were decisive enough to send an unmistakable message.
Perhaps the clearest statement from voters came not in the candidate races but in the ballot propositions.
Nearly 61 percent approved Proposition 400, continuing Sedona’s Home Rule authority. That vote tells us residents remain comfortable allowing the city flexibility in budgeting rather than reverting to the state’s restrictive spending formula. At the same time, approval of Home Rule should not be mistaken as a blank check. If anything, the election demonstrated that voters expect flexibility to be accompanied by greater accountability and measurable results.
Even more revealing was Proposition 403.
By nearly the same margin—60.99 percent—voters declared that the Cultural Park and Western Gateway property should remain dedicated to cultural and recreational purposes rather than residential development. After years of debate, lawsuits, political division, and uncertainty, the electorate has now spoken with remarkable clarity.
The question is no longer what the public wants.
The question is whether the new council can finally deliver.
That responsibility now rests squarely on the shoulders of the incoming governing majority.
For years Sedona has wrestled with issues that seem perpetually unfinished: traffic congestion despite millions spent on Sedona in Motion; the Uptown parking garage that became synonymous with delays and cost overruns; debates over tourism, affordable housing, water, infrastructure, and the future of the Cultural Park. These are no longer campaign talking points. They are now governing responsibilities.
The election also reflected something subtler.
There appears to be growing public fatigue with process replacing progress.
Residents have attended meetings, served on committees, completed surveys, and participated in workshops. They have watched consultants produce studies while many projects remained mired in discussion.
This election suggests many voters are asking a simple question:
What have all those years of planning actually produced?
That question should echo through every council meeting over the next two years.
Another factor worth noting is turnout.
Combined county turnout was only about 31.4%, and several candidates remarked on the relatively light participation, likely influenced in part by the midsummer election calendar. While those who voted made their voices heard, the modest turnout also serves as a reminder that many residents left the future of their city in the hands of a relatively small share of the electorate.
The incoming council inherits both opportunity and expectation.
Buillet brings an analytical approach to city government. Hauserman enters office with years of community involvement and volunteer service. Dunn returns with experience and institutional knowledge. Together with the new mayor, they have an opportunity to reset relationships between City Hall and the public.
Whether they succeed will depend less on campaign promises than on execution.
Will they accelerate completion of long-delayed projects?
Will they improve transparency?
Will they restore confidence that public input genuinely influences public policy?
Will they move beyond studies and begin producing visible results?
Those are the standards by which this council will ultimately be judged.
Sedona remains one of America’s most extraordinary communities. Its challenges are unique because its beauty is unique. Balancing environmental stewardship, tourism, quality of life, economic vitality, and fiscal responsibility has never been simple, nor will it become easier.
But elections have a way of clarifying public sentiment.
On July 21, Sedona’s voters did exactly that.
They did not vote for revolution.
Nor did they vote for the status quo.
They voted for leadership that listens, manages responsibly, and delivers.
Now comes the difficult part.
Campaigns end.
Governing begins.
— By Tommy Acosta
6 Comments
Yes the voter turnout was low. I suggest it is because many leave Sedona to travel during the Summer. It is typical of Arizona residents to leave town during June and July… too hot!
Unfortunately apathy prevails, and apathy won the election. 31.4% turnout? An excuse as “this is summer” doesn’t cut it. People can be on early voting, many were, and either use the US mail, which I do not recommend, or the drop boxes. But if mail is all you have – use it. If you are at you summer cabin in Montana, you can still get your mail if y ou care about your city.
People forget about all the countries where there is no choice. No vote. No say. And we have that opportunity here and ignore it. Well, you get what you vote for. So do not complain.
An interesting observation, the people (who voted) hated the idea of the Cultural Park being used for housing and then they kept the same people on the council that came up with the idea. Want more of the same? Well you are going to get it. It should have been apparent when the voters said “no car park”, but I guess that message did not resonate well.
Congratulations to Jean, it is gong to be a challenge. And that’s a shame Rich did not get in as he knows more about IT and the integration of systems than the entire staff and council combined. But why be efficient when you have tons of money to burn?
There was lot of personal sweat put into this. Wish more voters in the city cared about how it is run.
First, thank you to the candidates that won or lost. Offering your time and hard work to support the city we all care about is commendable. It was a tough, hard fought election. It made voters think about what they want from their community. It is not about left leaning or right leaning. It is about what is best for the residents of Sedona. Strong arguments are the sign of a healthy democracy. The vote was clear. The city council needs to listen more to what the voters want and not try to force their private political agendas on residents. Thank you to all who voted. To
those who did not vote, I do not want to hear any complaints or gripes.
Sedona’s turnout was 36.21%, which compares rather favorably to Arizona as a whole (27.43%), per SoS website. Participation would likely be higher if local elections were linked to the general instead of the primaries, though it does not necessarily follow that the losers would have won, or the winners would have lost, if they were.
So it’s apathy or rigged if you lose but a bigly win if you don’t? Must have been fun playing board games with you as a kid? Perhaps the truth is that the MAJORITY do not agree with your minority views?
Hundred percent correct! The election was not about winners and losers it was about electing fellow citizens to be held 100% accountable as they navigate and orchestrate our City Government. The newly elected who screamed from mountains on high about how corrupt and failed our government is. Now it’s time for them to put all of their money where their mouths are and show us all how it is done. Should prove very interesting especially with those who haven’t a clue as to how a City or any other government is run lawfully.