An interview with Barbara Litrell

SEDONA, AZ (January 6, 2010) - Barbara Litrell, candidate for the 2010 Sedona City Council four-year term seat is no stranger to community service.

To those in the community who volunteer, participate in city government affairs and are active in the preservation of the environment, Barbara Litrell is practically a household name.

As a volunteer she chaired the League of Women Voters Water Committee, which in 2003 launched the program of Water Awareness Month educational activities in the Verde Valley. She co-founded and served as first President of the North Central Arizona Regional Watershed Consortium. She organized a Spotlight on Seniors forum to identify the issues seniors are facing and to make available to them information about resources. She also organized two substance abuse forums for families in Sedona-- one on methamphetamine and the other on underage drinking. 

As a board member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, she launched the Annual Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards Program to spotlight women business owners in Sedona and the Verde Valley. On the Board of Keep Sedona Beautiful and as president, she helped develop education and advocacy programs as well as represented the organization in its position in favor of safety measures for S.R. 89A and opposition to continuous roadway lights on 89A. She also led education and advocacy programs in favor of a National Scenic Area designation.

For the past three years, Litrell organized and co-chaired Mitzvah (Good Deed) Day– the largest one day of volunteer service activities benefiting organizations and individuals throughout Sedona and the Verde Valley.

Most recently, she co-chaired the launch of the first Sedona Book Festival in October 2009 to benefit Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition and create a new, sustainable event for Sedona and Sedona businesses. 

Litrell has been honored with numerous awards for her community service including: the Verde River Citizens Alliance Annual Civic Award for meritorious contributions to preserving water resources in the Verde Valley(2003); Good Morning Sedona Award for Inspirational Community Leadership (2004); Ruth K. Birkner Leadership Award (2005);  Sedona Community Foundation Spirit of Sedona Award-Volunteer of the Year (2007); Gardens for Humanity Visionary Leadership Award (2008); National Association of Women Business Owners Visionary Award (2009).

From January through November, 2009, she was executive director of Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition, a 501C3 non-profit, which provides volunteers to assist seniors and disabled adults with services that help them maintain their independence and quality of life at home. She resigned from that position to run for Sedona City Council.

Before coming to Sedona, she had a successful 28-year career in advertising sales and management with The New York Times Co.  She was publisher of a number of national magazines including: McCall’s, Working Woman and Working Mother.

She also served as president of MacDonald Communications Corporation, where she was responsible for the revenue of the operation, including the magazines, a conference division, and the National Association of Female Executives. Her early career began as a French teacher for seven years.

In Sedona she lives with her husband, Michael, two cats named Lexus and Champ, and a 4-year old Yorkie named Maggie.

With eight years of public service in Sedona under her belt, she believes running for council is a natural step for her to take to assume a more decision-making role in the community.

“I love Sedona and I love community service,” she said. “I can do even more for the community as a member of the city council.”

Attending city council meetings and being at the forefront of various issues concerning the beauty and preservation of Sedona’s wonders, she believes the council could be doing a better job. She wants to make a difference in setting the city’s future course.

“Over the past eight years there have been some difficult issues that I wish the council had ruled on in another way,” she said. “It seemed time to step up to the plate to try to be the change I want to see to make a difference in the community. I want to be the kind of responsive leader that I would like to see on council. I think Sedona residents deserve that. I’m running for council because I believe that Sedona deserves council members who care about the will of the people, will implement fiscally-responsible measures and will protect the natural beauty and quality of life for ours and future generations.  I stand for those principles and I have practiced them since I have been here.”

She said the will of the people rises above all other considerations.

I will be the voice for the will of the people,” she said. “That’s my primary responsibility as an elected official:  listen, educate, know what the people who elected me want and to know what the people who did not elect me want as well.”

She also takes exception to accusations that the 30 or so individuals, who regularly attend council meeting when important issues are discussed, represent only a small fraction of Sedona residents.

“When 20 or 30 people show up at a council meeting they are there representing 300 people each who could not be there,” she said. “Three thousand people signed petitions in support of a National Scenic Area designation for Sedona. Another 800 people signed against continuous lighting on S.R. 89A. That is why there is a sense out there that the council is not responding.”

She said the three greatest challenges facing the next council are the budget, reviewing the Sedona Community Plan and bringing the community together.

“Given the economic environment as it is, it is vital we get back to balance,” she said. “At one time I managed a $30 million budget. I know what has to be done. It’s not just about cutting or raising revenues. It is not an either or. It is about balance. We need to look at all aspects of government expenditures. We need to look at how to raise revenues. Are we getting our share of money from the Federal government? Everything has to be on the table. We need to look at what we have to raise and how to do it. We need to explore all areas.”

For her, the upcoming review by next year’s council of the Sedona Community Plan is crucial to the future of the community.

“The next council is mandated to do it,” she said. “This council will have in its hands Sedona’s future. The decisions we make over the next ten years are critical. What are the priorities of residents and businesses?  All these areas are up for discussion. It will be very exciting having councilors open and responsive to the public will.”

In bringing the community together she looks to the council for setting an example.

“We can start by finding common ground,” she said. “As the saying goes, there ain’t no good guys or bad guys -- just you and me. Listen first, learn, question, get people involved and develop solutions.”

On the question whether she is pro-business of pro-environment due to her strong support for environmental issues, Litrell presents a unified perspective.

“Asking that question itself is divisive,” she said. “We need to get away from that. I’m pro-Sedona and that means being pro-biz and pro-environment.  After more than 30-years in business I know I am pro-business. And after moving to Sedona, I realized what a treasure we have here and that the business of Sedona is the environment -- the natural beauty, the forests, the trails, the air, the starry night skies and the serenity. Every business in Sedona is based on this natural beauty: the hospitality industry; the retail industry; the arts and cultural community; the real estate industry; our festival industry -- you name it! It’s the natural beauty of Sedona that provides the foundation for every business in our community. Without this beauty, we would have no business.”

She said she remains a proponent of dark skies for Sedona and is firmly against continuous lighting along S.R. 89A as a safety solution for pedestrians and drivers in the evening.

“Statistics show lights at night do not improve safety,” she said. “I support the recommendations of the 89A Safety Committee. Lower speed limits, enforcement by police, public education are proven to increase safety and lower accidents.”

She said those against a National Scenic Area designation because they believe it would add an additional layer of government, are wrong.

“The Forest Service Plan protecting our forests can be altered any time by the government to allow land trades,” she said. “By putting in an NSA designation we are taking control of our destiny rather than by not doing so.”

She said there are still too many questions surrounding the Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance being considered by council.

“There’s a whole lot of grey area,” she said. “There is no enforcement strategy. Relying on neighbors telling on neighbors is not a good concept.”

She differentiates between experience and qualifications as a measure of a good councilmember, pointing out she has a “can do” attitude and when creative ideas are needed the most, she responds with action and innovation, skills she believes are necessary components for the job.

“I believe I would make a good council member because I’m a fast learner, smart and experienced,” she said. “I’m resourceful. I listen. I ask good questions. I probe and do my homework. I have excess adrenalin and the energy to put towards it. I’m enthusiastic and I love to inspire others to get involved. I’ve been asked more than once, ‘Why in the world would you want to do this?’ I think it’s a great opportunity to serve and motivate others to serve. I believe in the will of the people.”