Sedona City Council picks 4 for vacancy – Sedona Red Rock News
A Sedona City Council vacancy created by the resignation of former Mayor Scott Jablow and the elevation of council members Holli Ploog and Brian Fultz to interim mayor and vice mayor, respectively, is slated to be filled by one of four finalists: Jean-Christophe Buillet, Charlotte Hosseini, Ernie Strauch or Allan Affeldt.
Interviews of the applicants is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m.
The four were advanced to a round of public interviews during the City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 28, with all of the selected applicants except Affeldt receiving unanimous votes. Affeldt advanced on a 4-2 vote, with Ploog and Councilwoman Melissa Dunn not advancing him.
“My criteria [was] thinking about this is a year position [so] coming up to speed quickly is important,” Councilman Pete Furman said, explaining his vote. “So I was really interested in folks who have demonstrated recent engagement with the city and the city council through commissions or work groups or [are] active. … I felt strongly about engaging in commissions or work groups … because I like to see how they think and how they act and how they treat staff or members of whatever body is that they [are] on, so it was an active demonstration.”
Andrea Christelle, Chase Norlin, Henry Silbiger, Gary Whitehil and Scott Ross were the remaining applicants that council chose to not consider further.
Finalists
▪ Affeldt is a former two-term mayor of Winslow and has served on the New Mexico Economic Recovery Council that represents the hospitality industry and the Arizona Humanities Council.
“I restored and own La Posada Hotel and the Turquoise Room restaurant in Winslow, so I know the hotel and restaurant industry. … I have restored many historic properties in Arizona and New Mexico,” he wrote in his application. “I have served on many non-profit boards, from Lowell Observatory to [the] Museum of Northern Arizona. I created my own nonprofit — the Winslow Arts Trust — to promote art and artists along Route 66. I built a museum — the Affeldt Mion Museum — in Winslow, so I know how to design, fund, build and operate cultural institutions.”
▪ Buillet was a member of the Citizen Budget Work Group, a 28-year resident and father of four and his family have built and operated A Sunset Chaetau over the last 20 years, his application reads. Along with his businesses, Buillet Tax & Consulting and Devstar Realty & Buillet Real Estate, he studied computer and electrical engineering at Northern Arizona University “before completing two years at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, which shaped his heart for service and integrity.”
▪ Hosseini is the current vice chairwoman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, where she has served since 2018 after relocating to Sedona in 2015. She also served on the Citizens Healthcare Work Group in 2022, the Fiscal Sustainability Work Group in 2017, the Citizens Budget Work Group from fiscal years 2017 to 2020. Her professional career centered on 24 years of service starting in 1989 to the state of Arizona where she held various roles from the special projects administrator for the Attorney General’s Office and deputy director of finance for the Arizona Department of Administration.
▪ Strauch was Sedona vice mayor in 2006 and served on council from 2002 to 2006. He is a 27-year resident who has also served on the Sedona Sustainability Commission from 2010 to 2013, the Sedona Community Plan Advisory Group in 2014 and the Sedona Community Plan Working Group in 2022.
“Unfortunately, I believe the most important immediate issue is the … re-establishment of trust in city government,” Strauch wrote in his application. “I do not have specific ideas to propose here, other than desiring to participate in a significant collaborative effort to effectuate an obvious public distinguishing event/activity that promotes the concept that the city is truly listening and cares.”
2026 Election
The applicants that were not chosen for interviews can also make their case to voters along with any other qualified elector for the 2026 Sedona City Council election on Tuesday, Aug. 4, in which the mayoral seat will be determined along with three seats on council. A runoff, if necessary, takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Candidate packets will be available at the Sedona city clerk’s office at 102 Roadrunner Drive on Monday, Nov. 3.
“It is highly recommended that those interested in running schedule an appointment to pick up and review a candidate packet,” a city press release reads. Candidates must be a qualified elector, at least 18 on or before the election and have lived within the city limits for at least one year.
Contact City Clerk JoAnne Cook at (928) 282- 3113 or by email jcook@sedonaaz.gov for more information on how to run for City Council.