The former Flagstaff city councilmember wants to move forward on housing and jobs.

By JOE FERGUSON | Arizona Daily Sun | Sun Staff Reporter | 11-07-2009

Former City Councilmember Kara Kelty formally announced Friday night that she wants to be Flagstaff’s next mayor.

The former Peace Corps volunteer and a councilmember for six years said important issues at the city have been suffering under the current Council leadership. Kelty believes the legislative body has spent too much time and energy revisiting issues that have been decided by previous Councils. In the last year, the current Council has reviewed the anti-camping ordinance, wayside horns and the city’s role in both economic development and the community land trust.

“Many of the Council priorities that I worked hard on, including economic development, affordable housing and fiscal management, have taken a back seat during the past two years,” Kelty said. “I am concerned that there has been a notable lack of progress on important issues that will impact Flagstaff’s future as a vibrant community.”
Although Kelty chose to pursue a seat on the Arizona Corporation Commission rather than another term on the Council in 2008, she has remained involved in municipal affairs. She is the current chair of the Zoning Code Citizens’ Advisory Group as well as chair of the Process and Procedures Group.

She also directed the Southwest Renewable Energy Conference hosted at Northern Arizona University a few months ago.

While Kelty was in office, the Flagstaff City Council saw the creation of the Northern Arizona Center for Emerging Technologies, the establishment of the city’s Land Trust Program, the founding of the Open Space Commission, continued funding for Rio de Flag flood control project and the creation of a plan for silencing train horns.

A day before Kelty made her announcement, she filed paperwork with the city allowing her to begin fund-raising and collect signatures to be put on the mayoral primary ballot.

Councilmember Joe Haughey and Mayor Sara Presler both formally announced their bids for mayor in July. Both Haughey’s four-year council term and Presler’s two-year mayor term expire in June 2010.

Kelty’s announcement as a third candidate for mayor has likely triggered a primary, which would be held in March. The top two candidates will then square off in the general election in May. The mayor’s job pays $36,000 a year.

Joe Ferguson can be reached at jferguson@azdailysun.com or 556-2253.