Integrity, Transparency, Inclusiveness
ABOUT CYNTHIA
I have lived in Clarkdale for 17 years. I was born in west Texas. I grew up in Northern California where I raised my children in the small town of Healdsburg CA. When I first saw Clarkdale’s town square it reminded me of Healdsburg when I and my family first moved there 42 years ago.
I have 2 grown sons and 3 grandchildren, ages 6, 8 and 22. They are absolutely the best thing that has ever happened to me. I understand the importance of creating a safe place for them in a world that they will someday inherit.
I retired from a 43 year career in nursing in 2022. I worked in nursing management for a few years, so I have an understanding of how large organizations and management work. However I love, and have always preferred to be, at the bedside, caring for patients and mentoring new nurses. I have cared for a wide range of patients from pediatrics to patients at the end of life. In the early 90’s I worked in hospice and cared for AIDS patients. I worked at Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood AZ for 16 years. The last three years of my career, arguably the most difficult of my career, I cared for members of our community during the Covid pandemic. My career demanded skills that enable me to stay cool under pressure, listen, and communicate with others with dignity and respect.
I served on the Parks and Recreation Commission in Clarkdale from 2017 to 2022. I brought the issue of the poor condition of the Selna-Mongini and Caballero Parks to the attention of the Commission in 2018. Many people, commissioners and town staff, have worked to bring to fruition the renovation of those parks. It was a pleasure to serve and to be a part of that process.
In addition, by serving on the Commission, I learned a great deal from Clarkdale’s excellent town staff about how to effectively reach out for the citizenry’s input regarding the parks, as well as how a small town government works.
I’m running for Mayor because I am concerned about Clarkdale’s future in terms of infrastructure, commerce, growth and historic preservation.
Infrastructure: The mayor and council need to be focused on repairing and extending sidewalks, repairing streets, the century old sewer system, the cost of water, maintaining common areas and the parks as well as implementation of the newly passed Trails System. As the town builds new assets, we should be planning for their perpetual maintenance with enough public works staff and funding.
Commerce: In growing commerce in Clarkdale, we need to listen carefully to business owners. What do they look for when deciding whether to invest in a community? What do they need in order to continue to be successful once they make that investment? What can the town do to assist them? The cycle of businesses opening and failing in the historic downtown needs to change.
In addition, the town needs to do everything possible to encourage and enable the preservation and renovation of the downtown historic buildings in order to attract businesses. Historic buildings do not just add to the charm of Clarkdale, they are also assets that attract money in the form of grants and tax credits as well as tourism.
Regarding other undeveloped commercial areas, I have heard from some citizens about businesses and services they would like to see in Clarkdale, such as a grocery store, pop-up shops and an ATM. I look forward to collaborating with the citizenry and the Clarkdale town staff in shaping Clarkdale’s commercial future.
Growth: Preventing growth completely is not possible in Arizona. If a developer makes a proposal the Council has to bring it to a vote - whether there is infrastructure to support the development or not.
However, we can be pro-active rather than re-active. We can decide what we want Clarkdale to be and look like, as we move into the future. Then we need to put the right tools in place to achieve that vision. Transparency and careful listening to the citizenry during that process is essential.
Historic preservation:
Clarkdale’s history is unique. The Clarkdale Historic District, listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, includes over 370 structures that are certified as historically significant. They are one of Clarkdale's most important assets. They are not only important historically, but they are important for Clarkdale's economic development.
The Historic Bandstand is an example of this. It's an iconic structure that is widely recognized and is part of what brings tourism to Clarkdale. It's preservation is an important statement of the town’s commitment to preserving history while promoting economic growth. I believe that this is a priority and I will act accordingly.
In 2023, I started a petition drive to stop the demolition and "replication" of the Clarkdale Bandstand. This plan would have resulted in the Bandstand losing its historic designation. We were able to obtain more than a thousand signatures demanding that the Bandstand be preserved and properly restored. Under pressure from the citizenry, the town changed course. The bandstand will now be properly restored per the State Historic Preservation Office's standards and its designation on the National Registry of Historic Places will be preserved.
I believe that the current Mayor has strived to do the best that she can for Clarkdale. However, she grossly underestimated the degree to which the Historic Bandstand is valued and loved by the community. In addition, she did not insist on the full inclusion of the expert resources and commissions available to her in the process of determining the best approach for the Bandstand. Clear, respectful communication, inclusion and collaboration are important for reaching consensus on the best solution for any problem.
As mayor, my first task would be to try and restore the recent damage to the faith and trust of an important sector of the people of Clarkdale in their elected officials. Respect, truthfulness, transparency, a willingness to admit mistakes and to listen to the citizenry is essential in restoring that trust. The process is not always quick, comfortable or convenient but it is essential for building credibility. As the mayor I will always strive to do that.