Residents of Sedona and Verde Valley cities had the opportunity to weigh in on the draft maps that could determine the congres­sional and legislative districts for the next decade.

Following the release of their final draft maps in late October, the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission held a public hearing in Old Town Cottonwood on Nov. 16. With over 100 speakers between the Cottonwood location and the Phoenix satellite location, concerned residents and elected officials stated their issues with the proposed maps to commission members, Democrat Shereen Lerner and independent Erika Neuberg.

The 2021 legislative draft maps place Uptown in District 7 with Flagstaff area suburbs, but not Flagstaff itself, and West Sedona in District 5 with the rest of the Verde Valley as well as Prescott and Prescott Valley.

Sedona Vice Mayor Scott Jablow was one of the first to speak on behalf of the city’s position on split legislative districts.

“The city has remained consistent that Sedona should be kept intact in the congres­sional district and in the legislative district, not split by county lines,” Jablow said. “The city also requested a district that maintains that the Verde Valley communities are together.”

The city of Sedona unanimously voted their support for draft maps LDF050 and LDF051, submitted by the Coconino County Board of Supervisors to the IRC’s online redistricting system.

These maps put the entirety of Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, the Village of Oak Creek, Cottonwood, Cornville and Camp Verde in Legislative District 6.

Sedona Councilwoman Jessica William-son stated that the city maintains the differences between Prescott Valley and Verde Valley. Along with Jablow and Councilwoman Holli Ploog, Williamson stated the same opinion that the entirety of Sedona should be kept with the Verde Valley, Flagstaff and the Northeast Arizona commu­nities as they all serve the same common community interests and goals.

City council members and other speakers urged the commission to reconsider the districts with competitive­ness and community interests in mind, two goals that the IRC has when recreating the districts.

Camp Verde Vice Mayor Joe Butner, stated his disap­proval of the Coconino Board of Supervisors’ proposed maps. As the second speaker of the night, Butner stated that he hoped his statements supporting Uptown being placed in District 5 with Prescott Valley would set the tone for the rest of the evening.

“We wanted to be cooperative with Sedona, but that was before we found out that Sedona voted to be included with Coconino County,” Butner said. “We do not want to be included with Coconino County in a legislative district, nor do we want to be included with Pima County in a legislative district.”

Yavapai County District 1 Supervisor Harry Oberg said that he agreed with the current maps in place that set Yavapai County as one collective district. Oberg, like Butner, stated that Uptown and West Sedona should be in one district — with Yavapai County.

Speakers from all over Yavapai and Coconino counties stated their support or disagreement with the proposed draft maps. The five-hour meeting was livestreamed and posted to IRC’s YouTube channel.

The commission hopes to have its final maps approved by Dec. 22. But members have cautioned that the process may spill into the new year.

Clarkdale, Jerome, Camp Verde leaders add their voices

By Cedar Gardner

Larson Newspapers

The Independent Redistricting Commission’s public forum held conjointly in Cottonwood and Phoenix brought to light concerns from munic­ipal leaders regarding keeping commu­nities together.

• Clarkdale Mayor Robyn Prud’homme-Bauer told the commis­sion that the Verde Valley, including Sedona, should remain whole — mirroring concerns of many other community speakers. Furthermore, she said the draft put forth does not meet the town’s goal for competitive­ness. However, Prud’homme-Bauer said Clarkdale does support the IRC’s congressional map, placing Clarkdale in District 2.
• Jerome Vice Mayor Mandy Worth voiced concerns about Verde Valley municipalities and the Yavapai-Apache Nation being in the same legislative district, but not the same congressional district. The town of Jerome statement read by Worth suggests retaining the Verde Valley as being part of the same legislative district, but altering the congressional district to be inclusive.
• Camp Verde Mayor Dee Jenkins also reiterated statements about keeping the municipalities of the Verde Valley together and keeping Sedona whole. Vice Mayor Joe Butner said he is most concerned about being “lumped” into a congressional district running from Coconino County all the way down to the northern part of Tucson.

According to Butner, Camp Verde has different economic, health and educational interests than some of the other communities in its congressional district.