To see the council candidate profiles of Stephen Knutson, Art Babbot or Dan Frazier, click their respected photos. Look for the part two of this series covering the Flagstaff city elections, which will include the final four candidates.

David Evans
Current title: Entrepreneur, Evans HOA Management Company
Length of Flagstaff Residency: Since Navy career ended
Education: BS from US Naval Academy, Annapolis and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Background: My name is David Evans. I am 58 years old and have been married to Sunny for 35 years. We have two daughters, one 30 and the other 28. I grew up in Phoenix, until I left after high school graduation, to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis. When my Navy career was over we moved to Flagstaff in part because my wife’s youngest sister had been a student at NAU, and we loved the city during our visits to see her. I was the General Manager at Continental Country Club for 12 years and left there about a year ago to start my own business, Evans HOA Management Company. I specialize in the management of townhouse and condominium complexes. I am the past Chair of the Board of Directors for the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce.

Why are you running for city council?
I am running for city council because I am passionate about Flagstaff. I love this city, and I want to ensure that its future is bright. To do this we, as a city, need to emphasize job creation and employment opportunity by creating an atmosphere that is attractive to local businesses that want to expand and to small businesses that might want to relocate to Flagstaff. We need to protect our neighborhoods from crime, our children from gangs and drugs and our environment from our own harmful ways. We must find ways to care for those who are down and out. Finally, we need to provide our citizens superior recreational and cultural activities.

If elected, what skills or experience would you bring to city council?
I bring with me a lifetime of leadership skills. I started leading sailors when I was 23 years old. Times and circumstances have changed but I have never shirked leadership responsibility. I have during those years been a leader in a variety of organizations. At times I have led from the top and other times I have been a leader within a larger organization. I have learned to think boldly. I have learned to fit those bold ideas with the organization’s resources. I have learned to make tough decisions and to be accountable for those decisions. Most importantly, I have learned that people are the most important element and must be treated, at all times, with respect and dignity.

What makes you stand out from other candidates?
My breadth of experience differentiates me from others. I have been a Project Manager for the modernization of Navy ships with budgets of well over $50 million and hundreds of workers, and I have managed a small business with a limited budget. What both have in common are people who are passionate about their jobs and interests and are competing for the resources. This competition for resources is one of most challenging aspects of leadership, and I have the experience to judge how limited assets are best allocated.

How do you especially relate to the citizens of Flagstaff?
I spoke earlier of being passionate about Flagstaff, well a major reason for that is the people of Flagstaff. One of the intrinsic beauties of Flagstaff is the diversity of its citizens, and we should always celebrate that. I respect the differing view points of our citizens. I understand that others, who are equally passionate about our community, have different views. In making tough decisions, as a council member, I will always listen to and respect citizens on both sides of the issue.

What are some of the ideas you would “bring to the table” if elected?
As a city we must work at economic development. A strong local economy equals a strong and vibrant community: creating increased tax revenues, which allows for improved services and amenities to the citizens. We need to create an atmosphere that is attractive to environmentally sensitive companies — an atmosphere that attracts smart people with smart ideas. I would like to see a partnership where ideas conceived at NAU became real working products, while employing our residents. We must work on solving traffic issues; idling cars on Milton contribute nothing but pollution. Specifically, we should work towards an additional exit off of I-40; planning for another railroad overpass; and increasing ridership on the Mountain Line. The city must be a leader in alternative energy; government buildings should incorporate sustainability concepts. The city should investigate the possibility of power generation, using the methane gas generated by the landfill; as well as solar and wind. I would advocate for the building of a new Public Works Yard and City Court building. This would free up existing sites for more conducive uses. I would like to see the building of a snow play area for our own children, and as a way of attracting winter visitors and alleviating some of the traffic on Highway 180.

What cause are you most passionate about? How would you advocate it?
The one cause that continues to irritate me is the city’s refusal to listen to the citizens of Sunnyside … when they have asked for help in cleaning up blighted properties. Neighborhood leaders are concerned about properties where the upkeep is so poor that health and safety of the neighbors is a major concern and where the character of the neighborhood is adversely affected by a few negligent owners. I understand that the idea of dictating maintenance issues to a property owner is a delicate situation, but I am terribly upset that our city council has recognized the problem, yet chosen to ignore it. I will advocate for the development of a Property Maintenance Ordinance that will address issues such as health, safety, and fire danger, while at the same time respecting property owner rights.

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