Home » From The Readers, Letters to the Editor » SFD Media Spokesman Refuses to Address Public

SFD Media Spokesman Refuses to Address Public

Joe Demme, SFD selection committee media spokesman

Dear Sedona Eye Editor,

During the January 11, 2012, meeting of the selection committee, (see item III. Subsection B. of the attached Draft Minutes) there was a vote to refer all media requests to chairman, Joe Demme.

Yet Mr. Demme has refused comment until after the next chief is selected. 

Why?  If all members of the committee are required to channel any media requests to Mr. Demme who then refuses comment, can you say, “Catch 22?”  What are these people so conveniently and meticulously hiding from the public?

When chairman of the original audit committee, Joe Demme — current chairman of the fire chief selection committee and failed candidate for the SFD Governing Board — recused himself from voting on an audit company after items of questionable legality were brought forth by then board attorney, Mr. Whittington (See item VI.Subsection C.1 of the SFD Governing Board 3-23-12 Regular Business Meeting – copy attached) after which, the entire audit committee was discontinued and all results therefrom, thrown out!

In consideration of those facts and in light of the secretive and adversarial nature of this chief selection process, why would any taxpaying member of the Sedona Fire District have any faith whatsoever in the current selection process?

The majority of SFD’s governing board and its seemingly perpetually appointed committee chairman, Joe Demme, have lost the trust of enough people in this district to allow an overwhelmingly successful recall.

A mandate of this AZ history-making magnitude should be enough to halt any further actions by this board until after the Special Recall Election on May 15, 2012. 

Instead, it has caused an acceleration of their efforts.

The district has managed very well with Interim Fire Chief Terry Keller at the helm and should continue to do so until the new board is seated.

Wendy V. Tanzer,
Sedona AZ
 
 

For the best Sedona Arizona News and Views? Subscribe now to SedonaEye.com!

4 Comments

  1. Artys Promociones says:

    Artys Promociones Likes! this article via Facebook comment.

  2. Karen Strauch says:

    Dear Friends and Residents of the Sedona Fire District,

    The verifiably well-trained EMS, Fire and all hazard professionals of the Sedona Fire District are OUR first line of defense in a medical emergency or a fire. They have faithfully served this community for many years. Our firefighters place their lives on the line for our lives and our safety. Now this is threatened because their future is threatened. We deserve a Fire Board that is ethical, complies with Open Meeting Law, and supports the firefighters efforts. We need your help.

    Election campaigns are expensive. Advertising is expensive but necessary to get information about these candidates to the voting public. The only way good and decent people get elected is with the financial support of those who agree with their platform.

    Former Sedona Fire Chief Nazih Hazime, Diane Schoen and Corrie Cooperman have stepped forward as candidates for those SFD Governing Board seats successfully recalled at the overwhelming WILL OF THE PEOPLE. Their election success depends entirely on the financial support of every citizen in the district.

    We are appealing to you for a financial contribution demonstrating your desire for a change in leadership and philosophy on the Fire Board. The maximum donation per candidate is $430. Because this fundraising effort is for all three candidates, may I suggest that you decide on an amount you wish to give.

    Then either write a check for one candidate or divide your amount between two or three candidates. (Sorry to have you write more than one check but each candidate has a separate bank account.) Make your check/s payable to “Committee to Elect (and then fill in the candidate’s) name.

    Finally, please complete the attached Donation Form and include it with your checks. Mail to: Wendy Tanzer, 35 High Sky Drive, Sedona, AZ 86351. We must have the completed Donation Form information for financial reports required by the County Recorder’s office.

    You, as voters in this election are the only ones who can really change the course of our Fire District and restore a properly run Board. Mail in ballots will be sent out the week of April 23 so please forward your checks immediately.

    If you want more information, please email sfdcandidates@yahoo.com with your questions or comments.

    P.S. This election is right around the corner. We’d appreciate as early a receipt of your contribution as possible.

    Thank you for caring,
    Karen Strauch
    Fundraising Chairperson
    928-282-666
    Committees to Elect Corrie Cooperman, Nazih Hazime and Diane Schoen

  3. Tom says:

    He doesn’t have to. We will. Welcome Kris Kazian to the fold.

  4. Glenn Shannon says:

    It seems everyone likes to play cloak and dagger games. I look at what the people on recall have done to reduce the cost of the SFD and they did their jobs as promised. The SFD had runaway costs and their budget was twice the school budget even though the calls were declining. People need to look at facts not get caught up in the hype.

Leave a Reply

Copyright © 2008-2017 · Sedona Eye · All Rights Reserved · Posts · Comments · Facebook · Twitter ·