Mayor Rob Adams keeps his seat while four newcomers win posts on City Council

All five Sedona City Council candidates supported by the Responsive Sedona Leadership 2010 political action committee were elected by wide margins in the Tuesday, March 9, election.

With 2,347 votes, or 66.51 percent, incumbent Mayor Rob Adams unofficially won his re-election for Sedona mayor, defeating challenger Councilman Jerry Frey who received 1,174 votes or 33.27 percent.

In the race for a two-year council seat, Dennis Rayner defeated incumbent Councilman Dan Surber, 1,997 to 1,395 votes.

In the race for three four-year council seats in which voters could choose to vote for three of five candidates, each candidate needed to win 50 percent of the electorate plus one vote to avoid running again in the general election.

Barbara Litrell received 2,427 votes, Mike Ward won 2,344 votes, and Dan McIlroy had 2,218 votes, all of which were more than 60 percent of the total votes cast.

Incumbent Councilwoman Nancy Scagnelli received 1,396 votes, while Jeff Siet received 910 votes.

Adams said the community made a big statement by voting against three incumbents, and added he is “obviously delighted with the outcome.”

He said the five elected stood together on many issues, including the opposition to State Route 89A West Sedona lights, the support for the National Scenic Area designation and the belief the mayor should be directly elected, not appointed by council.

He said he felt he would win his re-election bid and once wondered how he would have reacted if he had been defeated.

“It’s an election. You don’t know what to expect,” he said.

He said he was a little surprised at the wide margins by all of the PAC candidates, but also said he understands what the community is saying.

He said the votes the incumbents made while serving on council decided this election.

“I don’t know what better poll we can have,” he said. “The community has spoken.”

Adams said he will meet with the future council members next week to help prepare them.

“There is a big difference between being a candidate and being a council member,” he said.

Frey was not too surprised with the results but was amazed all five PAC members won seats.

“I knew I was in an uphill battle, and the mayor had a lot of support,” he said, adding he is not thinking about running for council again but is not going to close the door on that possibility either.

McIlroy said he was very gratified the community put its trust in him and pledges to tell them the truth and be the public servant they want him to be.

He, too, was surprised with the overwhelmingly support he and the other members of the

PAC received in the election.

McIlroy said the public looked at what the incumbents stood for and did not like what it was seeing for Sedona’s future.

“We are trying to keep the cost down,” he said. ”I think the public recognizes we offer change.”

Litrell, the top vote getter, thanked the people who supported her and worked on her campaign.

She said the election showed the public really wanted its voices to be heard and its will was reflected through the vote.

Litrell said she is happy the group won, and added it was unexpected all five would win seats and was also a little surprised the vote was not close.

She said the vote shows members of the public want to be heard and respected, and added that will be her goal the next four years.

Ward said he also was surprised the PAC members swept the election and by such a convincing margin.

The vote, he said, shows the current council is out of touch with the needs and wants of the public, and added the public voices must be listened to.

One way he plans to do this is to hold workshops to gather input he then can take to council meetings.

Scagnelli said she was a little bit surprised the PAC swept the election, but added the vote shows the community went with a straight party ticket over individual candidates.

These people put a slate together with five candidates and ran them together,” she said. “It’s hard to beat a well-funded slate like that.”

Scagnelli also said she is proud with what she accomplished on council and would not change a thing. She mentioned she does  not envy the new council having to come up with the budget for the city,

Rayner said his opposition to the SR 89A lights won him the election, saying when people heard his views on this subject, they told him he had just gotten their vote.

He thanked the public for their belief in him, and said the vote clearly shows the community wanted council to change.

Rayner said all candidates agreed the finances of the city are extremely important, so the election came down to other factors and beliefs.

He said he walked the community repeatedly and never head anyone utter a negative thought about his opponent, and he said this convinced him the election was going to be close.

Rayner also said the election is just the beginning of what must be done.

“The work has just begun, in my mind,” he said,” he said. “The fact we are together delivers a strong message.”

Rayner also said he never envisioned all five PAC members winning council seats,

“We never expected that,” he said. “I was absolutely surprised. There was no way to expect that. “

Voters also rejected Proposition 400, which would have repealed direct election for mayor in 2012, by a margin of 2,859 to 682 votes, or 80.74 percent to 19.26 percent. The mayoral seat will continue to be elected directly by voters.