The Duties of City Council Members

City council members are the City’s legislators. Their primary duty is policymaking, which includes identifying community needs, adopting ordinances (Local Laws) and resolutions (formal expressions of the City council’s opinion, intent, will, or policy on a specific matter), approving the annual budget, setting tax rate, and appointing certain officials: City Manager, City Attorney and Judge.

The Flagstaff City Council earns a salary of $63,800 per year and the mayor earns $70,180 (effective since December 1, 2024, per the Flagstaff City Code) this marks a significant shift: the City Council position is no longer a low-paid or volunteer role.

Flagstaff citizens deserve elected officials who can fully commit to the job: showing up prepared for every meeting, actively engaging in the community every day, listening closely to residents’ needs and concerns, and thoughtfully weighing the real-world impacts of their decisions.

When Council members set tax rates, approve budgets, and establish policies, those choices directly affect families, businesses, housing, infrastructure, and our shared qualify of life in Flagstaff. With proper compensation, we attract and retain representatives who treat this role as the serious, full-time responsibility it is, focused on transparent, responsive governance that puts our community first.

Why Your Vote in Flagstaff City Council Elections Matters More Than You Think.

As your City Councilmember running for re-election, I’ve seen firsthand how the decisions made right here at City Hall shape our daily lives. When we think about elections, our minds often jump to presidential races or congressional seats. But here’s the truth that every Flagstaff resident needs to understand: the decisions made in our City Council chambers affect your daily life far more directly than almost any other level of government.

Local Government Touches Everything You Care About

Public Safety. Neighborhood Streets. Water Bill & Supply. Property Taxes & Services. Zoning.

Your voice on Growth matters. Flagstaff is growing. Council votes on zoning, affordable housing, and protecting our dark skies, and forest. We decide the City’s budget and allocations to Core Services and other programs.

While national elections draw the headlines, local elections often have remarkably low turnout. This means that a relatively small number of engaged citizens end up making decisions that affect everyone. Your single vote carries significantly more weight in a city council race than in almost any other election.

Flagstaff City Council is a Nonpartisan position

Flagstaff City Council races are proudly nonpartisan because fires and floods don’t check our voter registration. Potholes, water pipes, and park benches don’t care whether you’re red, blue, or purple. Partisan labels belong 200 miles south in Phoenix; up here the only color that matters is the green of our forests and the blue of our skies. Keeping party politics off the dais ensures every decision-every budget line, every zoning vote-starts with one question: “What is best for our Flagstaff community.” That’s the standard I’ve upheld for four years, and it’s the promise I’ll keep in you send me back.