Sedona AZ (February 3, 2012) – The League of Women Voters of Sedona-Verde Valley is sponsoring a primary election forum with the Mayoral and Council candidates running for the Sedona City Council.
The forum will be held Thursday, February 16, 2012 from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. at the Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona Arizona 86336.
Scheduled to appear are Sedona City Council candidates Mark Dinunzio , John Martinez, John D. Miller, Jessica Williamson, and Mayoral re-election candidate Rob Adams. Council seats are for a four-year term and the Mayoral seat is for a two-year term.
The Primary Election is a vote-by-mail election. The last day to register is Monday, February 13, 2012. Early voting begins Thursday, February 16, 2012. Ballots must be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, March 13, 2012.
Any candidate who receives a majority of the votes cast at the Primary Election will be declared elected without running at the General Election. If not all of the seats are filled, a minimum of two candidates per unfilled office will be placed on the General Election Ballot taken from the candidates receiving the highest votes. If necessary, the General Election will be held on May 15, 2012.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government.
For additional information, contact Ruth Kiessel, Voter Services Chair, at 928-634-5827 or RAKiessel@hotmail.com.
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Darn, I’m unable to attend this forum but if I could my question to Mayor Adams would be “As a candidate running unopposed, why are you spending money for advertising?”
I would also be interested to find out why Cliff Hamilton and Paul Tutnick, both I believe intended to run for mayor, did not do so.
Especially I’m interested in learning why Angela Lefevre declined turning in her packet for candidacy as a council member? I sort of think I know why Dennis Rayner backed out, but Angela?
Somewhere prior to my voting I would appreciate answers to these questions.
Running unopposed and advertising? Weird. But guess it’s a happy and profitable event for the Red Rock News.
stellar i too thought why’s mayor running ads & asked folks in the know. tainted this man’s opinion of him. be careful of slippery slopes lined with politicians good intentions. he should not spend money on senseless ads & think that people are going to give him more next cycle. not happening mayor. Thanks. Richard (no last name please) live in Sedona
Wow, great that our Mayor is spending and wasting other people’s money on senseless ads about himself. Some things done by the City of Sedona are also very bizarre.
Two current examples:
(1) With excess homes on the market, a decline in population, a rotten economy and a City bond debt of over $60 million, our Housing Commission’s agenda is to NOT protect ordinary Sedonans, but to use money City Hall does not have to purchase vacant land in residential areas sans CC&Rs for “affordable housing” purposes.
(2) Sedonans are being socked with ten years of progressive, sizeable WW rate increases while the City unnecessarily spends tens of millions on birding wetlands, A+ effluent and wells for injecting wastewater into the aquifer.
I recomment a “NO” vote on the Home Rule Option.
In addition to asking why Adams would spend money campaigning for a seat he cannot lose, ask how smart anyone is who donates money to same!
To be sure, one might ask if it makes any more sense to be spending money promoting an unopposed candidate than it makes sense on a “Housing Commission” now proposing for the city to buy up foreclosed homes and vacant lots to provide “affordable” housing.
Isn’t it time to impose cease and desist restraints on city spending?
VOTE NO, NO, NO on Home Rule, Prop. 420.
If anyone out there happened to attend the Election Forum, could you clarify something I heard had been said?
Is it true that John Miller’s response to what he would like to accomplish if elected would be to make Sedona a more affordable place to live?
Then, when asked how would he accomplish that, did he indicate creating new methods of taxation as a remedy?
Now then, since the Chairman of the Housing Commission, Linda Martinez, is in fact connected with construction and land development, as is John Miller, doesn’t it stand to reason that in the future, if elected, Mr. Miller would be all in favor of the city buying up cheap property to provide cheap housing in order to lower the cost of living in Sedona?
However, as he and Ms. Martinez are reaping profits, we voting residents will be imposed yet another tax to pay for infrastructure such as flood control and and streets fit to drive on and at the same time be subjected to infiltration within our neighborhoods and an even further decline in property values.
Mind you, this is just a question. If the information I received about that one portion of the Election Forum is inaccurate, kindly confirm . . . with facts.
Sorry none of my previous concerns came up which pale in comparison with this late breaking news.
Well with the $2 million that the airport just got, just think of all the homes these people are imagining! Here’s some video from the forum http://www.sedona.biz/news-from-sedona/city-election-coming-in-3-weeks/#more-5193
Stella, I like Your questions and speculations about Martinez & Miller. As for why Angela backed out, I guess You would have to ask Mayor Adams what He said to Her in private.
My write-in vote for Mayor will be for Pee Wee Herman. I suggest You all do the same.
Here’s some more fat to chew on. At an election forum sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce it’s been reported (Friday 2/17 Red Rock News page 7A) the Wish Lists of the candidates included but wasn’t limited to:
*Investing more $$$ in marketing;
*Investing in capital projects such as more parking;
*Shuttle service to trail heads;
*Increase funding to non-profits;
*Increase funding to Chamber of Commerce from $600,000 to about $1.5 million by giving them all of the bed tax;
*Look for opportunities for other revenue sources;
*A city-owned outdoor event venue “perhaps on city-owned land by the Wastewater Reclamation Plant;”
*A boutique convention center;
*Expansion of Yavapai College and the Sedona campus of the Verde Valley Medical Center;
*Creating an Uptown City Center with more outdoor dining, drinking and music;
*A “string of pearls” in West Sedona with community gathering centers and small parks;
*THE CITY should diversify through new programs in art and music therapy, health care services the wine industry and technology;
*THE CITY should develop the land known as the Preserve at Oak Creek north of the Sedona Arts Center into public space.
Don’t despair because among the “mix” more insignificantly a solution for storm drainage and alleviating uptown traffic are mentioned.
And what may I ask will be the source of $$$ funding for this bloated list of fantasies? Is this not insane?
Another “pipe dream” is the resurrection of a glorified Creek Walk which, after years of research, has already been defined as an extremely bad idea since Oak Creek sits right smack in the middle of a FLOOD PLAIN. Any money spent on such a foolish venture, not to mention the intrusion on privately owned creek side properties, cannot be taken seriously . . . or can it??
In particular the item relating to “look for opportunities for other revenue sources” caught my eye. This latest revelation in this ourlandish Wish List simply confirms my previous decision to VOTE NO ON PROP. 420.