An issue of fairness in the Sedona mayor’s race was brought up Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Keep Sedona Beautiful City Council candidate forum after one candidate did not attend because he wanted to avoid potential open-meeting law violations.

Councilman and mayoral candidate Jerry Frey did not attend the forum after being told by the city attorney it could possibly violate the law, since he and Mayor Rob Adams, running for another term, would be among the third and fourth council members attending.

Frey decided not to attend and believed Adams also would not be there to be fair, according to Frey. He was informed KSB would have another forum just for the two mayor candidates in the next week or two.

On Thursday night Adams asked the more than 100 audience members in attendance if they wanted him to leave, so there would be no hint of unfairness to anyone since Frey was not there.

A few members told him to stay and speak, so Adams decided to stay and take part.

He said KSB President Steve DeVol called him at 4:15 p.m. to tell him it was “his lucky day” since Frey had decided not to attend because of the open-meetings law violation possibility.

KSB President Stephen DeVol said he spoke with Frey who informed him of the potential open-meeting law violations if he did attend. DeVol contacted City Attorney Mike Goimarac who told him Frey was correct.

He said Frey was given the option to attend, saying two council members would have been asked to leave while the mayoral candidates made their opening remarks later in the meeting.

Frey said he is upset Adams decided to attend, and that KSB allowed it. He said the recommendation of having another forum for the mayoral candidates he made was welcomed by DeVol Thursday afternoon.

He said DeVol called him minutes before the forum was to start to ask him how he felt about asking a few council members to leave for a few minutes so he and Adams could speak.

“I told him I had made other plans.” Frey said, adding he found out Adams took part in the forum from other council members.

“I feel both Steve and Rob lied to me. I am [upset] he showed up,” Frey said. “This is hypocrisy at its worst.”

He also wonders what part of the open-meetings law KSB does not understand, mentioning the group accused council members of open-meeting law violations about a year ago.

Frey said it’s not the city’s responsibility to post meetings where council members might attend. Vice Mayor Cliff Hamilton and Councilman Mark DiNunzio showed up prior to the forum and left immediately after seeing three council members in attendance.

Frey said he doesn’t understand why the mayor attended.

“That shows no respect to me as a council member and as a mayoral candidate,” he said. “I let them know why I was not attending. I got this from the city attorney. I didn’t make this up. It’s really unfair, too.”