Candidate: Lindsay Masten, Cottonwood resident of six years
Age: 41
Current profession: “I’m an agency partner and design professor.”
Q: Why are you qualified to serve on council?
A: “I’ve served on the Cottonwood Planning and Zoning Commission for years and have been its chair since 2022. I’ve learned how the city operates and how to cooperate with a diverse range of voices. There’s no need for petty disagreements or politicking when everyone has the opportunity to express their views civilly and vote. My experiences as a business owner also qualify me; I understand budgeting, overseeing staff and I don’t shy away from complexity. As an educator, I know the importance of sharing knowledge. The public deserves to know why decisions are being made.”
Q: How should the city bring more affordable housing into the area, and balance the growth of businesses and new residents?
A: “Cottonwood has a severe housing supply problem which has driven prices up. We can decrease prices by increasing supply. The process of increasing supply needs to come from multiple angles. Cottonwood should provide development incentives specific to affordable housing. These can come in reduced parking requirements, setbacks or city improvements like extending sidewalks or connecting streets. It should be easier and simpler for one house, for one family, to be built relative to larger and/or speculative developments. Update city code for accessory dwelling units so that they are easier to build and can be built on more lots, then apply deed restrictions so that these units can’t be used for short-term rentals. We need long-term rentals. Find space in the city budget for a dedicated housing manager who could work on finding and writing affordable housing grants, coordinating with potential affordable housing developers and ensure data-based decisions. Revise code for historic and other districts to encourage mixed-use low-traffic uses on small lots. What makes Old Town attractive is its scale. We can replicate that on similar-sized infill lots, with smaller setbacks. That will maintain character while creating more housing. With our housing shortage, businesses are struggling to hire staff. Housing has impacted our supplies of workers and basic goods. We will achieve balance when we can meet our basic needs, without needing to drive an hour. But we need housing first.”
Q: What is your vision for economic development in Cottonwood?
A: “More cooperation and communication. We have so many silos, and we all need to communicate and support each other more. I would like to see the city work more directly with the Chamber of Commerce. We can evolve our local tourism to be more supportive of more of our locals. Although wine is sometimes thought of as purely a tourism industry, it’s a combination of tourism, agricultural and manufacturing. The Verde Valley has a long history in agriculture, and I think we can marry our burgeoning wine industry. People need to print labels, make bottles, make barrels, own bottling lines, rent equipment. Right now, local winemakers are mostly buying equipment and services from non-local vendors. That doesn’t need to be.
“Offer cooperative opportunities with local youth, working with the high school and college to support young entrepreneurs. Cottonwood’s recent Economic Development Strategic Plan states that although the city has an older average age than elsewhere in the state, 54.9, we also have a higher percentage of residents under 15, 13.2%, than other parts of Yavapai County. One of the city’s initiatives should be finding ways to encourage keeping these young residents local; business is a good way to do that.”
Q: How should the city change events to reflect the city’s changing demographics?
A: “It is possible to do events for both old and new. When the city makes changes to existing events, there should be public polls so that the council members understand how the public feels. The city does polling, but often gets little engagement, so we will need to increase feedback.”
Q: How will you rebuild public trust and confidence in Cottonwood City Council?
A: “Transparency, a willingness to respectfully disagree in public and explaining the ‘why’ behind votes. People are so tired of seeing arguments on the council, and there’s no need for it. Even if we disagree, we owe it to the public to explain our stance and vote while following rules of order.”
Cottonwood City Council Election
Mayoral candidates (one four-year seat):
- Michael Mathews, challenger
- Ann Shaw, challenger
Council candidates (three four-year seats)
- Felicia Coates, challenger
- Holly Grigaitis, challenger* [*residency in city limits remains in question]
- Helaine Kurot, incumbent
- Bob Marks, challenger
- Lindsay Masten, challenger
- Joy Mosley, challenger
- Heather Piper White, challenger
- Bill Tinnin, challenger
