In 2008, a new face emerged in Flagstaff politics when Sara Presler defeated incumbent Joe Donaldson by a wide margin to become the first female mayor in the city’s history. As mayor, Presler has also been an adviser to the Obama administration. Presler was providing free legal aid to NAU students as a part of Residence Life and teaching business law and ethics (a job she continues to hold) when she decided to run for office. Her campaign started with $100, but she eventually raised about $25,000.

Now Presler is running for re-election against city council member Joe Haughey and former councilmember Kara Kelty. The mayoral field will shrink to two in the March 9 primary, and the general election will take place May 18. The Lumberjack sat down with Presler to discuss her re-election bid.

The Lumberjack: Why are you running for re-election?

Sara Presler: We made promises to the community and kept those promises, but there is still a lot of work to do.

LJ: What kind of work is there still left to do?

SP: It is important we continue to grow jobs locally. We had a really tough start. There was a severe helicopter crash during my first months. A young child died in the community. We also faced a $13 million budget deficit. My opponents disagreed we’d face that kind of deficit. I knew it was very complicated. We had very important fiscal adjustments to make. There’s also more work to do with education. Those are just a few examples of where we’ve had demonstrated success, and we’re on the right track, but there’s still more to do.

LJ: Specific issues aside, why do you think you were elected in 2008?

SP: The citizens of Flagstaff needed a thoughtful advocate, fresh ideas and new leadership. More so, I knew that government didn’t look like me, and it didn’t talk like me. I felt like working-class families and everyday citizens had lost their voice at City Hall. When I went door to door in the community, I reminded people that local government was their government. I think that resonated with citizens.

LJ: How do you feel the community has responded to your first two years?

SP: We as a community have really pulled together in these tough times. For example, in light of the $13 million deficit, we have retained all firefighters, all of our patrol officers, all of our art funding. We created 80 high-wage jobs, 11 new incubator businesses with an average wage of $92,000, and this does not happen alone. In tough times, partnership and collaboration are more important than ever. One of the strengths I bring to this position is the ability to work with other people and organizations to leverage the city tax dollar to its fullest extent. We have demonstrated our ability to work cooperatively as a community.

On the other hand, I can be very direct, and at times, my strong advocacy presents the impression that I’m not listening. But the truth is that I hear it all, and I am listening. I am willing to take some hits because I know my intentions and our mission as a community is good. As a young leader, I’m learning that when we have a vision to make a community greater than it already is, you have to take great risk together. And when you take great risks, sometimes you fail, and often you succeed.

LJ: How well do you think you have worked with other members of the city council?

SP: I really like each of them. I think they are passionate about Flagstaff. We collectively care about the future of the city. The distinction comes with the role of government. Some on the council believe government should take an active role in the business sector. Others think that it’s really not our job to be involved so much.

My job in the city is to make common-sense decisions to make our city progressive while maintaining my fiscal responsibility. Sometimes I have to remind myself that when you’re making tough decisions, it might sound unfriendly.

LJ: How would you describe your experience working with Joe Haughey?

SP: Pleasant. Thoughtful. Surprising. Generous.

LJ: How would you describe Kara Kelty?

SP: Precise. Determined. Activist. Generous.

LJ: Where do you place yourself in the political spectrum, whether it be left, right or in the middle?

SP: Middle of the road. To be particular about it, my job is to represent all residents of Flagstaff. I think when you’re looking at the candidates for mayor, you’ll see one of my opponents is very far left, while another opponent is very far right.

LJ: What do you think will be the key issues in the election?

SP: The most important issues are job creation, public safety and our public safety nets, such as United Way and organizations like that. There will also be serious discussions of the promises we made and the promises we kept. I have done what I told the voters I would do.

LJ: Do you have any regrets about your first term?

SP: I didn’t spend as much time keeping a diary or a blog about the experience I’ve had as a young female mayor. We hit the ground running so quickly that in these economic times, it was hard to spend a great deal of time reflecting.
Some people said I was too focused on what was happening in Washington D.C., but I say we leveraged about $5,000 and brought home $10 million. Those monies we brought back were so valuable to the community. I don’t regret it, but I should communicate it a lot louder.

LJ: If you lose the election, what would you want to do afterward?

SP: I intend to continue to serve the citizens of Flagstaff. I’ll continue teaching at the university and continue asking tough questions and bring joy to whatever I do.

Watch the SMC Mayoral Debate with Kara Kelty, Sara Presler and Joe Haughey.