A 26-year Sedona resident, nonprofit volunteer and youth sports coach, political newcomer Tony Hauserman is one of five candidates seeking three open seats on the Sedona City Council.
Candidate Profile
- Sedona City Council candidate Tony Hauserman
- Time in Sedona: 26 years
- Professional/personal background: Naval aviator for 11 years and an airline pilot for 29 years.
Questions
What is your vision for the Western Gateway / Sedona Cultural Park? Do you support or oppose the restoration of the Georgia Frontiere Performing Arts Pavilion?
I feel it is too early to take a stand on this. We need more information before we decide.
I fully support the authorization for the SCP 2.0 group to pursue building a proper business plan based on information they can acquire from major ticket agencies. I have three main items that I need to know before I take a position. First, can it be financially viable? Second, where will we park the cars? And third, will we keep control over how many concerts and what time of year the performances will occur. I am adamant about not adding more traffic during our already busy times around spring and fall.
Do you support crossings over Oak Creek outside city limits? What other alternative routes do you support and how would you pursue them?
I support continued exploration of additional Oak Creek crossings. The challenge has never been whether another crossing would help; it has been building citizen support, funding and regional cooperation to make it happen.
I also believe other routes should be considered not just the reestablishment of the Red Rock Crossing. Some have been discussed in the past but all of these ideas of the location of a new route have encountered major resistance by affected neighborhoods.
While these crossings are outside Sedona city limits and ultimately require county leadership, Sedona should continue working with Yavapai County Supervisor Nikki Check [D-District 3], neighboring communities and state and federal agencies to get these projects moving forward.
As a council member, I would advocate for improved emergency access, traffic relief and greater connectivity between the Village of Oak Creek and the rest of the Sedona area. One place to start would be the Big Park Regional Coordinating Council which represents homeowners associations in the village area. Their leadership could provide the needed initiative to start the process of gaining Yavapai County support.
How will updates to the city of Sedona’s Land Development Code address affordability, residential and commercial development while still balancing what makes Sedona unique?
Sedona has significantly less rental housing than most American communities, making it difficult for workers, families and even retirees to find housing. We need to allow more housing choices — including townhomes, duplexes and appropriately located apartments — while ensuring high-quality design, neighborhood compatibility and protection of Sedona’s natural beauty.
We need to manage growth carefully. With limited land remaining, future development decisions must balance housing needs, environmental protection and quality of life for our residents.
This is not about making Sedona look like everywhere else. It is about making sure Sedona remains a community where people can continue to live, work and participate in the life of the city. If as a society, Sedona wants to reclaim the families that were here just 15 years ago, it must adopt a more flexible approach to housing.
The high cost of ownership and access in a community with little available real estate to construct affordable single-family homes forces us to think creatively and with open minds.
What plans do you have to alleviate traffic congestion?
Traffic congestion remains one of Sedona’s most significant quality-of-life challenges and there is no single project that will solve it. The reality is that Sedona experiences periods of intense congestion because it is a highly desirable destination.
Tourism generates much of the revenue that supports city services, so we must focus on managing traffic intelligently rather than pretending it can be eliminated.
Nearly a decade ago, Sedona adopted the Sedona in Motion transportation plan after extensive public input, analysis and study. That plan has already produced meaningful improvements, including sidewalks, shared use pathways, roundabouts, a viable shuttle system and other capital projects such as the Forest Road Extension, Owenby Way creation and the two lanes on the southbound side of State Route 89A through Uptown. These investments have improved traffic flow, pedestrian safety and neighborhood connectivity.
I believe it is time to revisit and update the SIM plan, incorporating what we have learned over the past decade and identifying the next generation of transportation improvements. That should include continued pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, improved neighborhood access, better traffic management technology, continuing to expand shuttle frequencies and locations and a fresh examination of roadway connections that were proposed in earlier plans but never pursued.
It is also wise to consider that any subdivision that only has one way in and one way out is not ideal. Alternative routes of some form are preferable and would provide greater safety in the advent of some emergency. They can also provide greater convenience by providing alternative ways of getting out of your neighborhood.
I would work closely with ADOT, Coconino County, Yavapai County and local residents to identify realistic opportunities for alternative routes and congestion relief. Some solutions may be expensive and long-term, but Sedona has demonstrated before that major infrastructure projects can succeed when there is public support and regional cooperation.
Essay
My name is Tony Hauserman and I am running for Sedona City Council. I’m running because I love this community and believe that my lifetime of service, leadership and teamwork has prepared me to help guide Sedona through the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Service has been a defining component of my life. After graduating from college, I earned a commission as a U.S. naval officer and became a naval aviator. The Navy taught me discipline, accountability and the importance of making sound decisions under pressure. My service also taught me that success comes from teamwork, trust and putting the mission ahead of personal interests.
Following my military service, I spent 31 years as a commercial pilot, including a career flying for FedEx. In aviation, safety, preparation and responsibility are essential. Every flight requires meticulous planning and sound judgment. Those same principles apply to local government, where decisions affect the lives of thousands of residents every day.
Over 25 years ago, I chose Sedona as my home. Like many of us, I was inspired by the beauty of the red rocks. Since arriving, I have looked for ways to serve the community through 12 years of coaching youth and high school athletes, 16 years of volunteering with Rotary, 10 years volunteering with the police department removing unwanted reptiles and sitting on two different city committees developing solutions for Sedona.
Coaching young people has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Sports teach lifelong lessons that extend beyond winning and losing; they teach responsibility, teamwork, perseverance and respect.
I am running because I believe Sedona deserves leaders who listen carefully, focus on practical solutions and work collaboratively rather than highlight political division.
We face important issues: Public safety, infrastructure, traffic, housing, economic stability and preserving the quality of life that makes Sedona such a special place to live. Solving some of these issues will require efforts to complete infrastructure projects which alleviate traffic choke points, develop our shuttle system to get cars off the road and continue building shared-use pathways to allow for safe pedestrian and bicycle passage. I believe we can do this while staying within our budget by utilizing money generated from tourism.
This is why I strongly support Proposition 400, Sedona’s Home Rule measure. It’s about maintaining local control over how Sedona spends the revenue it already collects. Without Home Rule, the city could lose much of its legal authority to spend funds needed for police, roads, parks, recreation, infrastructure and essential community services.
Regardless of political philosophy, a city cannot function effectively without the ability to manage its own finances. I believe preserving Home Rule is critical to Sedona’s future stability and success.
Throughout my life, I’ve been fortunate to serve my country and my community. I’m running for city council because I care about Sedona and believe my experience will help make a positive contribution.
I would be honored to earn your trust, your support and your vote on July 21.
Sedona City Council Election
Lita Loesch Boyd, Jean-Christophe Buillet, incumbent Councilwoman Melissa Dunn, Rich Gay and Tony Hauserman are running for three open seats on the Sedona City Council.
Vice Mayor Brian Fultz and Henry Silbiger are running for Sedona mayor.
Election day is Tuesday, July 21.
