Re-Elect Sandy Mayor of Sedona
Proven Leadership • Dedicated to Sedona for 50 Years
Re-Elect Sandy Mayor of Sedona
Proven Leadership • Dedicated to Sedona for 50 Years
I have had the honor and privilege of serving as Sedona’s mayor for over seven years, and the pleasure of living in Sedona for 50 years, longer than I have lived anywhere else. I was born and raised in Seattle Washington, attended Whitman College for one year and graduated from the University of Washington. Before coming to Sedona, I spent a few years living in other places, Fairbanks, Alaska, The Dalles, Oregon and Marathon in the Florida Keys, but I am now happy to call Sedona home.
I got involved in getting Sedona incorporated soon after my arrival in January of 1972. It was a special challenge because we are in two counties, so we had to begin with changing state law to allow it. Nearly 16 years later, after a successful December election, Sedona officially became a city on January 4, 1988, and I was excited and proud to be a member of the first appointed City Council.
Governing in Sedona has changed significantly over the years, but never in the way it has changed in the last two years. I believe there has never been a time in the 34 years Sedona has been incorporated when an emergency proclamation has been issued. The global pandemic of COVID-19 has resulted in unusual and extraordinary times and brought more uncertainty from an invisible and unpredictable enemy than most of us have experienced in our lifetimes. As conditions change daily, it is a challenge to keep up and adjust. But we are innovative and resilient, and I know we will get through this, together, and emerge even stronger on the other side.
Our goals for the city remain largely the same, although the path to reach them and the time frame may change somewhat as we focus on health and safety, now even more than ever. Because we have budgeted wisely in the past, our financial health is good, so we can move ahead with city operations and functions.
We will continue the implementation of our Master Transportation Plan. The Climate Action Plan is now being implemented, economic diversification programs continue, and we had no layoffs or furloughs.
We will work throughout the 2022 Legislative sessions to support bills which will benefit Sedona, especially regarding the management and regulation of vacation rentals.
City services remain available, sometimes provided remotely or by appointment. Public Works projects are ongoing, as are street repairs and maintenance, and police services continue with few modifications. We intend to proceed cautiously as time goes on and as we all adjust to ever-changing circumstances.
Vaccines and effective treatments for Covid-19 have enabled a return to more normalcy, but evolving variants will bring continuing spread of the virus and continuing uncertainty. This is a unique opportunity for learning and adapting in ways we might have never imagined. I have often seen and been proud of what a generous and giving community this is. Our love for Sedona and each other will bring us through.
Note: the Primary Election is August 2, 2022
Sandy Believes ...
Sedona is one of the most beautiful places in the world, loved by both residents and visitors. Let’s keep it that way! I have served Sedona for 50 wonderful years, including serving on three committees over a 15-year period to incorporate Sedona as an Arizona city in January 1988.
I stand for:
1. Sound financial management. That means continuing my track record of balanced budgets that include rainy day savings and spending on projects that protect our properties, pocketbooks, and natural surroundings, and provide cultural and recreational amenities for all residents.
2. Traffic improvements. You asked for better traffic flow and more connections and we have made significant progress. There are now two dedicated southbound lanes in Uptown, with pedestrian barriers, crosswalks and two roundabouts. The shared-use path on Thunder Mountain/Sanborn is complete and construction on the Forest Road extension is out to bid. Design is complete on the underpass at Tlaquepaque, and design is underway on the parking garage in Uptown, and our new Transit Administrator is hard at work on initiating a trailhead shuttle program using hybrid vehicles.
3. Sustainable tourism. The plan is done and implementation is moving forward on Sedona's first-ever Sustainable Tourism Plan to protect both our quality of life and our tourism revenues. The plan is a true partnership of businesses, local nonprofits such as Keep Sedona Beautiful and the Sustainability Alliance, the city and the Chamber of Commerce.
4. Protecting Sedona's natural environment. We must actively monitor the health of our community and the environment, and we have now committed the resources necessary to take action. In the past year, we adopted a Climate Action Plan, added staff to serve with our Sustainability Manager, conducted household hazardous waste and electronics recycling events, added electric and hybrid vehicles to our fleet, added charging stations and installed solar panels at city hall.
5. Changing Arizona law governing short-term rentals will once again be our focus, as Sedona leads the push in the 2022 Arizona legislative session to protect our neighborhoods from problems associated with investor-owned short-term rentals. The “sharing economy” is here to stay but we must be able to manage short-term rentals in order to sustain long-term rentals and other housing types that are so important to our community.
6. Affordable Housing. We have completed our Housing Assessment, developed an action plan and hired a Housing Manager who will share the position with Cottonwood to take action on affordable housing. We need more apartments and other types of multiple family housing, both at market rate and as designated affordable.
Let’s continue our successes and our track record of balanced budgets, address the challenges of traffic, support a healthy economy, and continue the tradition of professional, competent city management.
I ask for your vote in the August 2, 2022, primary election.
Sandy's Community Involvement
- Active in the League of Arizona Cities and Towns (LACT) to advance Sedona's interests in the Arizona Legislature,
- Member of the LACT Executive Committee,
- Chair of the Neighborhoods, Sustainability and Quality of Life (NSQL) Policy Committee, Member of the Budget,
- Finance, Economic Development (BFED) Policy Committee.
- Founder and Director of Sedona Winefest in 2009, currently President of Sedona Fair Inc, its parent organization
- Sustaining Flows Working Group, Friends of the Verde River
- Friends of the Verde River
- Verde Front Leadership Council
- Served on three committees to get Sedona incorporated from 1972 to 1987, when an election to incorporate Sedona succeeded
- Served as Chair of the West Sedona Community Plan Advisory Committee for Yavapai County just prior to Sedona incorporation
- Appointed to first City Council in January 1988
- Served on City of Sedona Housing Commission for 6 years
- Vice Chair of the City’s WEDLU Task Force for 2 years
- Theater manager, Illuminate Film Festival
- Served on the Board of the Sedona Forum and the Verde Valley Forum for Public Affairs, its successor
- Served on the Board of AYSO Region 232 as Treasurer, Regional Commissioner & Area Director for 17 years, was also a coach and referee
- Served as a Sedona Chamber of Commerce Ambassador
- Founder with Kate Blevins and Rayna Griffin of Sedona Recycles Inc & served on the Board as Treasurer for close to 20 years
- Served as Treasurer of Southwest Public Recycling Association
- Served on the Founding Committee and on the Board of the Verde Valley Wine Consortium
- Served on the Board as Treasurer of the Arizona Housing Alliance
Mayor Sandy with Police Chief Charles Husted and Fire Chief Jon Trautwein