With the election canvass complete, Mayor Sandy Moriarty will officially begin a fourth two-year term later this year. Her re-election is good news for Sedona’s economic recovery. Mayor Moriarty’s calm, steady leadership has been invaluable during the public health and economic crises that continue to disrupt our businesses and families.

Her mask mandate is typical of her style. She listened to all shades of opinion, examined what other cities were doing and its effects, weighed the various reports on the efficacy of face coverings, and asked questions. After consulting with staff and city councilors, she acted decisively and without political calculation. Since then, her support of Sedona|Safe.Clean.Ready and her “education before enforcement” approach show her eminent good sense.

She supports step by step tourism management in the year ahead, also sensible. The Mayor, Council and Chamber will regularly discuss the right approach to the slowly recovering travel market, which is in flux. We are confident she will support actions that balance public health and economic recovery.

Councilor Jessica Williamson returns to the Council as a veteran of Sedona’s pandemic response.  Her commitment to listening to health experts and speaking realistically about the coronavirus threat is needed, as is her willingness to be flexible as conditions change.  Our economy and quality of life will also benefit from her focus on the environment, transportation and local control of short-term rentals.

Newly elected Councilor Kathy Kinsella brings community development and land management experience as the Vice-Chair of Sedona’s Planning and Zoning Commission. P&Z often handles complex issues with long-term effects on our economy, environment and quality of life.  Thanks to her work on the Commission, Kathy arrives already accustomed to making informed, difficult decisions. She is also a civic leader, serving as immediate past president of the League of Women Voters Greater Verde Valley, where she was awarded the Citizen Engagement Award in 2017.

The Council also welcomes Holli Ploog, who government and business leaders know from the Sedona Budget Review Committee and the Fiscal Sustainability Work Group. But Holli’s impact goes well beyond her public financial service. She is Chair of the Sedona Arts Center, a centerpiece of Sedona’s arts scene. Holli’s well-informed arts perspective is a welcome addition to the Council since the arts are a critical quality of life amenity and economic driver. She is also the immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Sedona. In recent years, the Club has focused on youth development, a sometimes underappreciated community need we are glad to see Holli champion.

Council says goodbye to Vice Mayor John Martinez, whose thoughtfulness, humor and compassion were always on display even when (especially when) the stakes were high and the decisions were tough. Councilor John Currivan is also departing. We will remember his incisive questioning, ability to see all the options and his unwavering commitment to his core values.

We can’t sign off this week without a shout out to our four local winners in the USA Today Readers’ Choice Top 10 awards:

> The Verde Valley is ranked among the Top 10 Best Wine Regions
> Enchantment Resort is a Top 10 Best Romantic Hotel
> Mii Amo rated as a Top 10 Best Wellness Resort/Retreat
> L’Auberge de Sedona is listed as a Top 10 Best Pet-Friendly Hotel

Congratulations to all! The results remind us of the excellent amenities we enjoy as residents and the enthusiasm of visitors and locals, whose votes propelled our region to these stellar results.

Even in these tough times, Sedona shines!

–Jennifer Wesselhoff, President/CEO

---