Sedona, AZ - Environmentalist Matthew Turner doesn't think
small. According to his campaign platform he wants nothing
less than to make Sedona a world model for the environment,
spirituality, the arts, and sustainability. Like the famous
line in the movie Field of Dreams, Mr. Turner seems certain
that "if you build it [the tourists] will come," and Sedona's
environment and residents will be healthier for it.
And with Washington to Wall Street focused on renewable energies
like solar, wind, and ethanol; and supporters like Olympic skier
Suzy "Chapstick" Chaffee in his corner (Ms. Chaffee is running for
the Sedona City Council), it's hard to doubt him. That's why
he's running for Mayor of Sedona.
But big thinking doesn't seem to paralyze Mr. Turner's ability to
get things done. He seems to know that the secret to success is to
proceed in small increments.
As founder of the environmental group Green Sedona, Mr. Turner
successfully petitioned the City of Sedona to use alternative
herbicides instead of regular herbicides; not only to protect the
environment but our health. Wisely, he didn't ask the Council
to create a blanket City ordinance banning the use of regular
herbicides, which some might have done. Instead, he suggested
that the City do a test for six months: manual weeding, alternative
herbicides like C-Cide (Vitamin C based), and investigate
longer term solutions like rubber concrete or netting. At the
same time, he rallied residents and the media around his cause and
succeeded.
More recently, he did the same thing when he convinced the Sedona
City Council to support the use of natural cleaning products at City
Hall. Not everywhere in Sedona, just City Hall.
Today, environmental issues are a top agenda for the Sedona City
Council.
As you would expect Mr. Turner also supports Sedona becoming a
National Scenic Area to preserve its open spaces, solar lighting on
89A instead of 76 light poles to protect Sedona's dark skies, bike
lanes and hybrid cars, and he wants Sedona to be the first solar
city in America to reduce greenhouse gasses and end its dependence
on non-renewable oil. To fund the latter, he is proposing to
utilize renewable energy incentives (i.e. production tax credits,
investment rebates, and renewable energy certificates) available
through CitizenRe Corporation.
For a $500 upfront deposit (that you get back with interest), the
Citizenrē Corporation pays for, installs, owns and operates solar
panel installation for your home. Your contract is for 1, 5 or 25 years and
the energy savings from the solar panels will offset your regular
utility bill.
But is Mr. Turner a one-message candidate? Does he have the
experience and breadth of knowledge to lead the City of Sedona?
Checking through his platform issues suggests that the environment
isn't the only thing on his mind.
According to Mr. Turner, "the budget is the most important issue
facing the City, we can't do anything without revenue. The City of
Sedona is facing major infrastructure projects such as roads (89A),
sewer, storm drainage and the like; not to mention the funds already
raised to pay for enhancements along SR179. How will the City pay
for these projects that are so important to its citizens?
Increasing the Bed Tax would be a good way of increasing revenue.
There are other cities in Arizona that have higher Bed Taxes than we
do.
I would also support the issuance of a General Obligation bond. The
proceeds of the bond could be used to help fund these projects while
spreading out the repayment obligation over time so that the City
can repay it in a reasonable manner out of its regular revenue. This
should help the City avoid raising taxes that impact its citizens.
I also think the City needs to take a hard look as its expenses.
Take the Roadrunner trolley, for instance. This is costing taxpayers
$365,000 per year. Very few use this for transportation. The City
should have waited until the SR179 construction was finished because
there will be sidewalks and a pedestrian bridge. These may be
sufficient to help tourists circulate through Sedona's shopping
districts.
I also believe that as Sedona becomes a model city when I am Mayor,
that we will attract world-wide media attention that will increase
visitors and revenue. I don't think we will need to rely on other
sources of revenue when the City becomes a model city and draws more
tourist dollars. Going green will actually save the City money.
For example we saved the city $22,000 a year by switching to green
cleaning and natural pesticides."
Matthew Turner's position on the Red Rock Scenic Area designation:
Matthew Turner's position on short term rentals:
To learn more about Matthew Turner, visit
www.MatthewforMayor.com.