Everett has “all the right qualities” for Congress
by Ivan Finley

On January 8th, Mayor Alan Everett became Former Mayor Everett when he resigned his seat on the Sedona City Council to run for congress in the newly created District One congressional district.

Everett has served Sedona well for the last 5-1/2 years. Under his leadership we have seen many accomplishments that have improved the quality of life for Sedona residents.

Among them is the completed upgrade of the waste-water plant, continuation of the installation of sewer service, the addition of several traffic lights at intersections, and re-aligning streets where necessary. He led the effort to help the Sedona Main Street Program’s traffic concerns by acquiring the land necessary and building a much needed parking lot in Old Town Sedona. He has been a leader and a listener. Sedona will miss him greatly.

He and his wife Marla have taken on a very large task. District One is huge, the largest in the state of Arizona. It includes almost all of Northern Arizona, including the cities of Sedona, Prescott, Flagstaff, Williams, Winslow, Kingman and many others. The task of visiting all the areas and getting elected is gigantic.

Everett has shown that he has all the right qualities to provide the leadership for such a large and diverse district. We all want to wish him well and help get him elected to this very important opportunity to continue to represent us at a much higher level.

Everett has played a very active roll in the Republican party in Arizona and will be a candidate for the Republican Party for this seat.

SEDONA’S FIRST ALL

MAIL IN ELECTION

If the Sedona Primary Election, scheduled for March 12, 2002, follows the pattern established in other Northern Arizona communities, we could have more than 65% of Sedona’s registered voters mailing in their ballots.

This means that we could have about 4,500 voters. (MAYBE WE WILL FINALLY HEAR FROM THE SILENT MAJORITY).

Like the 2000 election, we have seven candidates running, only this time it is for three seats, not four. Listed in alphabetical order they are: John Bradshaw, local business man; Allen Bradley, incumbent; Dick Ellis, former planning and zoning commissioner; Sharon Nagy, business woman; Susan Solomon, consultant; Ernie Strauch, retired; and George Tice, incumbent.

 No matter who is elected, they must remember that they have to represent every citizen of Sedona. Every thought and action must be aimed at the betterment of our "quality of life". As our elected officials, they are charged with ensuring our HEALTH, SAFETY  AND WELFARE.

What should you look for in deciding whom to vote for?

Their ability to know the issues and their ideas for solutions.

Their ability to listen, even to opposing views.

Their ability to treat each other with respect.

Most of the candidates have already started their campaigns and you have read about them or heard them speak. It is very important for you to be comfortable with your choice, you will have to live with them for the next four years.

My worst fear is that this election will be about one issue, Highway 179. There are many issues that will affect Sedona and our future that have much more impact than a road. Remember, the final authority over State Highway 179 is not the Sedona City Council.

OPEN SPACE

We are blessed by being surrounded by Forest Service Land.

Every City Council since our incorporation has passed resolutions stating that there should be no more forest service trades for private development. So far, the Forest Service has honored that, but the new council should not let up.

DEVELOPMENT SPRAWL

It can’t happen in the city limits of Sedona, but watch out between here and Cottonwood. The State Land Department controls the future of almost 12 square miles, that is almost 7,680 acres.

The State of Arizona can and has sold State Land in the past for the benefit of education (it has to go for that), and it could sell all or part of that 12 square miles.

NOW FOR THE SCARY PART, Yavapai County in their impeccable wisdom, is working on a plan, brought on by the State Growing Smarter program, that could change the zoning on a major part of the entire county to a 10-acre minimum. If the entire 12 square miles of State Land was sold for private development with a 10-acre minimum, there could be 768 homes between here and Cottonwood with dirt roads.

That would be urban sprawl. NOW WOULDN’T THAT BE LOVELY? The Sedona City Council has no authority in that area, but by working with the other communities and the state, we must see that this never happens.

POSSE GROUNDS

RECREATIONAL FACILITY

This one should have a high priority. Finishing this ambitious and much needed project will have positive long reaching affects on the citizens of Sedona and put us well into improving our QUALITY OF LIFE. This one is also on the ballot. Please vote for it.

UNDER-GROUNDING

OF UTILITIES

Almost 10 years ago, I ran for City Council and that was one of my priorities. We signed an agreement with APS to do it, but it  has taken more than 10 years to really get started and show some real progress. So just because you get elected does not mean you will get good things done in a hurry, so be patient.

ARE YOU REGISTERED

TO VOTE?

You have already received a card from the City telling you what will happen. The City is trying to clean the voter rolls and to be sure everyone who is registered to vote receives the mail-in ballot.

You will probably receive your ballot about February 18th. You can vote and send in your ballot any time after that. If you don’t receive your ballot, check with City Hall.