Sedona Vice Mayor Brian Fultz was sworn in for his two-year term as Sedona mayor on Tuesday, Nov. 15, as the 15th mayor of the city of Sedona and the 14th person to hold the seat. Councilwoman Melissa Dunn was sworn into her second term, joined by newcomers Tony Hauserman and JeanChristophe Buillet being seated for their four-year terms.
Additionally, interim Mayor Holli Ploog returned to her regular seat and was elected by the council to serve once more as vice mayor, a post she held before she was elevated to acting then interim mayor in October 2025. Since the last ballots were counted in the July 21 midterm, in which Fultz defeated political newcomer Henry Silbiger 1,834 to 1,672, Fultz said the issues facing residents largely have not changed. However, the Oak Creek flooding on Sunday, Nov. 1, and voters’ overwhelming rejection of the city’s proposed residential development at the Sedona Cultural Park will affect city planning.
“We’re going to be looking at how we respond to a flood,” Fultz said. “There’s obviously been a flood that can be similarly damaging and life-threatening. That’s going to be on everybody’s mind while we continue to live through this super El Niño season that’s just getting started. Post-primary, the Proposition 403 outcome gives direction to the council about what can or can’t be done with the Cultural Park property. The need to continue to work on master planning in that light and continuing to get input from the community is very important.”
Fultz said his metrics of success for his term include continuing with the Community Conversation series that forgoes a typical council work session for feedback sessions from residents on a series of topics and making “meaningful progress” on the city’s Balanced Housing Strategy that seeks to have 775 new housing units over the next decade.
“The National Community Survey has an opportunity for the community to grade the City Council and its confidence in it, so I would certainly like to see that metric improve during the next couple of years,” Fultz said. “I’d like to see that we have at least a master plan and hopefully some progress on implementing that plan for the Cultural Park property. And, of course, you can’t talk about Sedona without talking about traffic, so continued work on how we can mitigate the impacts of vehicular traffic should be measurable as well.”
“My priority is the spirit of the community being one community and finding ways for us all to love and respect each other,” Fultz said. “That is really what I want to see over the next couple of years. We have plenty of things to work on, so let’s be one community.”
City Council
In the race for three City Council seats, Buillet led the vote count with 1,895, followed by Hauserman with 1,859 and Dunn with 1,810. Not elected were Rich Gay with 1,757 votes and Lita Loesch Boyd with 1,614. “I’m just excited to be an advocate for resident needs and help bring the community,” Buillet said. “I guess because I would say [my goals are to] try to unify the community, and bring forth amenities and policies that really benefit the residents.”
Since July, Bulliet said that the main concern residents have brought to him have centered on land use and zoning issues. “That’s probably 90% of the things people have asked me about,” he said.
A more informed citizenry and streamlined government, Buillet said, would constitute a successful term. “I feel like it would be a successful term if I could simplify life for residents … and help to improve … communication in the community,” he said. “I’ve heard people at community conversations saying that they’re lacking certain services that exist, but they’re just unaware of them. … If we have a better informed citizenry about what’s available, and we can fill in some of the gaps in areas where there’s services lacking or communication lacking, and we can simplify people’s access to information and getting through permits and such, then I think I’ll feel like I’ve done pretty well over this term.”
Hauserman said he will bring “an independent view of things,” but he also stated that “I largely agree with the direction that the current council has done in a lot of things,” with his “overriding goal” being what is best for the most Sedona citizens in every decision.
Among the first matters before council at the regular meeting following the swearing-in was discussion of the city’s strategy for Uptown employee parking, with the Uptown parking garage expected to be completed soon. That discussion will be covered in a separate story. Hauserman has served on the Parking Work Group.
“What I’m looking for in the Uptown Parking situation is fairness to businesses while we also look out for the needs of the residents,” Hauserman said. “Since I live in Uptown, and none of the other councilors really do, I may have a different perspective as to what is in the best interest of our residents in Uptown and our local businesses. “I’m going to be looking for specific things, like exactly which road are we going to still have parking on, and how are we going to protect residents from creep into the neighborhoods.”
A successful term, Hauserman said, should be based on, “Did I vote in favor or against issues that would help the most people in Sedona?”
For Dunn, the issues facing residents have not fundamentally changed since July. She echoed Buillet’s desire for better communications to residents and Fultz’s goal of greater resident participation. Among her criteria for a successful second term she cited: increasing the number and variety of low- or no-cost community events that also do not require driving and parking, more community requested projects directed by council to staff for feasibility, easier access to U.S. Forest Service trails by increasing the number of transit and mobility routes, increasing ridership and community approval of a master plan for the Cultural Park.
“Most importantly, thank you for your vote which has allowed me to continue working on behalf of our community,” Dunn wrote. “I intend to continue my focus on community, environment and accountability. I’ll keep working to strengthen our community and deepen our shared identity. I’ll continue working with residents and businesses to make our shuttles more effective, so more cars stay parked and our streets stay quieter.
“I’ll continue championing projects that keep Sedona clean, green, resilient and sustainable, protecting the natural beauty and peaceful character that defines us.
“And I’ll continue pushing for a clear, transparent government with strong performance metrics, outside audits as needed and easy-to-understand dashboards helping everyone see how decisions are made, dollars are spent and goals are met.”
