Born on a small ranch south of Albuquerque New Mexico, Mayor Rob Adams has lived in the American Southwest all his life, residing in Arizona for 25 years as well as previously residing in Colorado and California. Adams reflects: "I have witnessed the growth that has occurred during my lifetime with disregard for sustainability of our resources. Because of the unplanned
growth, we have sprawling cities, lack of public transit, air and light pollution, concerns about sustainable water supplies and numerous other environmental impacts.

Adams continues: "The thought that keeps occurring to me is, we are losing what has attracted people to the West. In my own family, my mother brought along with her the culture of the Eastern part of the USA (Ohio); my father was from a ranching family and was a roommate of Edward Abbey. Together they blended a way of life defined in a love of the land, respect for hard
work and a lifestyle based on family values. I was brought up as a steward of the land long before this phrase became a buzz word. I don't want to lose my heritage and that's why I decided to get active and run for Mayor of Sedona."

"Why do people come here?" Adams queries. "Wide open space, friendliness of the people, relaxed lifestyle, the uniqueness of our environment, clear view of the night skies, availability of solitude, lack of pollution," Adams responds with the qualification, "I don't think there is a model of a sustainable community out there and I think this bodes badly for the future. We have to plan where we want to go and plan for how we will sustain our growth."

For Adams, Sedona is an incredible place to be in a leadership position, inspirational, exhilarating, invigorating, and receptive to opportunity. Sedona is surrounded by national forests; therefore, limited in terms of growth. Adams explains: "We can plan what we want to look and feel like as a community without being distracted by rampant growth. I think we have the
opportunity to shape ourselves as a model city in the USA."

Adams continues: "We know what our barriers are going to be. We have done some unique things by declaring we don't want to have an abundance of franchises, big box retail or car dealerships as they don't suit the character of our community. From one standpoint this fits; from another, this creates a challenge for us. And that challenge is that our opportunity for revenue generation is relatively limited. How are we going to be sustainable from a revenue generating point of view?"

The Mayor illustrates: " Somewhere between 2-4 million people come here each year. We have to become sustainably oriented by thinking green, preserving and enhancing our environment, enhancing the City to reflect the way we live. The architecture must fit. There should be a continuity of architecture, not sameness. Think about Santa Fe .We don't need an over the
top image but one in balance with the area's landscape.

Regard for the land is another penchant for Mayor Rob Adams as he suggests: "Think about the way our indigenous people used their resources and could not go beyond what they built. According to my understanding the indigenous people did not really live in Sedona but rather regarded it as a sacred area."

Adams would like to see Sedona as a stand-alone destination with world- class resorts and environmental sensitivity. He illustrates other US cities which have succeeded in implementing their vision:

Paradise Valley, AZ: luxurious real estate, tree-lined avenues, world class resorts and spas, antithesis of strip malls, relaxed environment offering a taste of the desert. Santa Fe, NM: displays Spanish culture and history, adobe architecture, Spanish costuming/dress, dance music, unique food, and world-class art colony. Authentic cultural environment lends additional
flair. Source of inspiration for people like Georgia O'Keeffe. Ashland, OR: originally a mining town; its population of 30,000 has preserved the character of the original town. Like Sedona, Ashland is built along a creek. Offers a creek walk with ponds, pedestrian and bicycle friendly; huge tourist attraction. Adams continues: "How do I view Sedona? Expand beyond the hiking and jeep ride image to embrace fine dining, entertainment, creek walk, arts friendly, convention center, e.g., move to the top of the food chain in terms of a destination while being perceived as economically sustainable and environmentally sensitive. Taking care of our environment: this is the way we need to be living and the principal condition of being environmentally and economically sustainable. The City's art reflects the community. Sidewalks and bike paths extend the impression of the neighborhood's homes and vice versa."

Adams maintains an open door policy and invites input from residents and businesses. He's suggested an online q/a chat room for the League of Cities and Towns so exchange can be developed on issues pertinent to city leaders. In the seven months of his administration, Adams has maintained his own personal fitness regimen daily while also exploring ideas addressing the community's concerns. A self-confessed detail-oriented businessman, Adams is an entrepreneur who's acquired a deep respect for City operations expressive of "the heartbeat which makes things happen". Whether it's report review, attendance at Chamber music concerts, art openings, parades, film festivals or Boys and Girls Club events, Mayor Rob Adams is getting a better vision of what Sedona's residents want and where they want to be as a City.