Derek Palosaari was unanimously appointed as the Cottonwood City Council’s new member on May 22.
Palosaari is filling the seat of former Councilwoman Tosca Henry who was elected in 2016 and resigned on March 31. After submitting letters of interest and resumes, candidates interviewed with the current city council during two meetings. The council received 14 applications and 13 applicants moved on to the interview process.
Palosaari is a 1992 graduate of Mingus Union High School. He has worked in real estate for 13 years and has been the Sedona branch manager for Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert since October 2021.
Palosaari said that he had wanted to be on the city council since he was in his early 20s, but found it hard to justify taking time away from caring for his family.
“It’s my hometown,” Palosaari said. “I grew up here in the ’70s, ’80s and part of the ’90s. I’ve seen a lot of things that have changed for the better, but I’ve also seen things not happening at all. I would love to be part of making whatever change I can help make.”
Palosaari wants to focus on retaining youth in Cottonwood. He remembered that in the 1970s there was no industry in Cottonwood and it was difficult to make money. Apart from working at the cement plant, grocery store or hospital, there was not a way to make a living. Palosaari left Cottonwood to go to college and pursue more opportunities.
“Retaining our youth in our community has been a problem,” said Palosaari. “I would like to see companies, businesses and industries that are going to pay decent wages.”
Palosaari acknowledged the housing problem, but also brought up the lack of industry, likening it to a money-making problem. He said that many young people work in the restaurant industry, while there are only a limited number of those jobs available in this Cottonwood.
“I would love to see our youth be able to start a career here and actually flourish and spend 15, 20 or 30 years in a company like in the old days,” Palosaari said.
Palosaari will join the council at its next meeting on Tuesday, June 6.
