Meet Becky

Councilmembers House and Sweet and I accompanied firefighters from Flagstaff, Summit, and the Department of Forestry and Fire Management to a scheduled prescribed burn on Observatory Mesa.

SMART Week--intended to spread the word about keeping children safe by securing guns in the home. Recently I read a proclamation recognizing this week and the importance of increased education about reducing gun violence.

Recently David Turk, Deputy Secretary, US Dept of Energy (pictured) toured a home on the Navajo Nation with a new solar array. The Deputy Secretary announced that the Department is awarding Navajo Power Home $5M to install additional solar on the Navajo Nation. Flagstaff is actively seeking funding through the DOE for projects that help to achieve our carbon neutrality goals.

I admire the work of the Center for the Future of Arizona and was honored when asked to participate on a panel to kick off the League of Arizona Cities and Towns annual conference. Four AZ mayors spoke about our responses to the Center's recently released AZ Voters' Agenda. Pictured is CFA ED Sybil Francis.

A Flinn-Brown Fellow myself, I welcomed the chance to participate in a panel discussion at the Flinn Foundation about the relationship between local and state government.

I judged my first chili cookoff!

On July 17, 2024, I joined Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley, Hopi Tribe Vice Chairman Craig Andrews, and San Juan Southern Paiute President Robbin Preston Jr. for a ceremonial signing of the recently approved Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement (NAIWRSA or Agreement). In all, there are 39 entities who are parties to this Agreement.

FUSD's Camp IWannaGo 4 and 5-year-olds came to visit me. I Wanna Go to this camp next year!

The city's Water Services staff and councilmembers Harris and McCarthy and I served pizza and helped customers calculate how proposed water rate increases would impact them.

I recently spent time with the CARE team and accompanied them to a mental health emergency call. They were able to get the resident cared for and watching the compassion and professionalism of this team was impressive. When I was first elected to city council, I was invited into the group that ultimately created the CARE unit and to see it from an idea to a reality is gratifying! Community Alliance, Response & Engagement

Summer camp at the Boys and Girls Club of Flagstaff.

928 Central hosts monthly meetings intended to allow for networking among non-profit leaders and sharing of resources.

NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera at the unveiling of Coconino Community College's new mascot.

When students visit me in city hall, they always ask what my favorite part of my job is and I'm honest and tell them that getting visits from them is the best!

We had a blast at the Juneteenth Gala. Here's CM McCarthy, me, CM Sweet, CM House, CM Harris, and Dr. Bernadine Lewis.

Governor Hobbs spent a day in Flagstaff to meet with various groups, including getting an update about food insecurity in northern Arizona and the work of Flagstaff Family Food Center.

Senator Mark Kelly's space flight suit in his office.

City staff, Vice Mayor Austin Aslan, and Councilmember Jim McCarthy conducted our annual D.C. lobbying trip to find support for important projects and keep Flagstaff's priorities front and center. Congressman Ruben Gallego is always generous with this time and included funding for a Flagstaff wastewater project in his appropriations priorities. These priorities passed through Congress and fingers are crossed that the Senate supports them as well.

We spent an afternoon meeting with President Biden's Chief of Staff, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and other Cabinet Secretaries to make our case that resources to combat homelessness be made a priority.

Tempe Mayor Cory Woods, Mayor John Giles, and me on the steps of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

A group of mayors through the U.S. Conference of Mayors formed a homelessness working group and worked to come to consensus on ways to help our communities house people. We met in D.C. to lobby members of Congress and Agency directors. There were 50 of us who spend two days meeting and making our case. One of our requests--that veterans' benefits not be included when qualifying individuals for housing assistance--is soon to become a reality.

Another wonderful housing effort is Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona's starter home project. The project is planned to include 41 small units of owner-occupied houisng.

Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona purchased a motel and spent months renovating the entire property. I spoke at the ribbon cutting and now JoJo's Place provides shelter and a place to call home for women who were experiencing homelessness.

The FUSD Foundation held a fantastic "Stuff the School Bus" school supply event and created a Teachers' Closet where any teacher can come get classroom supplies. Many local businesses were on hand to support the effort, including the owners of Levitate Adventure Park.

The city council is working to build and strengthen relationships with surrounding Indigenous nations. Here Councilmember Miranda Sweet and city staff traveled north to meet with members of the Kaibab Band of Paiutes. Here we are with Tribal Chair Roland Maldonado.

Coconino County Supervisor Patrice Horstman and I volunteered to help the Flagstaff Family Food Center "Stuff the Bus".

Every astronaut who has walked on the moon trained in Flagstaff. These astronauts from the NASA Artemis team were in town for astronaut, equipment, and communications training in preparation for the next mission to the moon.

Lowell Observatory sponsored the Eclipse Over Texas at Baylor University in Waco, TX. I was eager to talk about Flagstaff's dark sky accomplishments and thrilled to experience the eclipse.

I was invited by the National League of Cities to speak at a Congressional briefing panel regarding Flagstaff's Green Schoolyards Program. This, and other similar briefings, are sponsored by the Environmental Energy Study Institute.

Councilmembers Miranda Sweet and Khara House and me at the ribbon cutting for the Multicultural Park Sculpture Exhibition at the Elizabeth Archuleta County Park next to Willow Bend.

Congressman Greg Stanton was instrumental in creating the program that recently funded water projects in four cities, including Flagstaff, plus Coconino County. The mayors of the cities, Supervisor Begay of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, Colonel Andrew Baker of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Congressman Stanton held a press conference to share information about our projects.

I love reading to youth and was eager to read at Elevate Pre-K, DeMiguel Elementary, and the Flagstaff Library as part of Read Across America Week.

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly held a Senate field hearing in Flagstaff in city council chambers. I testified about the progress of Flagstaff's Rio de Flag Flood Control Project as did Colonel Andrew Baker of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

I introduced the ASNAU President at the Fight for Our Freedoms event with Vice President Kamala Harris.

AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes and I greeted the Vice President on the tarmac at the Flagstaff airport. Here's Air Force II taxing up behind us.

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Flagstaff and NAU for her "Fight For Our Freedoms" national tour.

One of my favorite local non-profits is Tynkertopia. If you haven't been, you've got to pay a visit!

Councilmember House, Vice Mayor Aslan, Deputy City Manager Keene, and I spent a day at the AZ Capitol to share Flagstaff's needs with Representatives Cook, Marshall, Peshlakai, and Tsosie; Senators Hatathlie and Rogers; AZ Corporation Commissioner Tovar; plus Governor Hobbs's staff.

NAU Homecoming with friends and President José Luis Cruz Rivera.

Councilmember Sweet, Vice Mayor Aslan, Flagstaff staff, Downtown Business Alliance's ED Terry Madeska, and I met with PUMA, the team that helped to create the Downtown Vision. This was at the International Downtown Alliance annual conference.

Check out the Greater Flagstaff Region firefighting recruit graduates!

Councilmember Sweet, Vice Mayor Aslan, staff and I visited the Navajo Nation to meet with the Human Rights Commission and Vice President Richelle Montoy and her staff.

Councilmember Matthews, Vice Mayor Aslan, Flagstaff's City Manager, City Attorney, and Indigenous Initiatives Coordinator, and I drove out to Hope lands to meet with Chair Timothy Nuvangyaoma and VC Craig Andrews.

I'm a member of the AZ Mayors Education Roundtable and was excited to bring colleagues down to the Helios Education Foundation and their ASU Decision Center to pore through data and discuss strategies for improving supports for all Flagstaff students and job-seekers. These Flagstaff leaders were from the United Way, Coconino Community College, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona, Northern Arizona Interfaith Council, Flagstaff Unified School District, FUSD Career and Technical Education, Coconino Association for Vocations, Industry, and Technology, First Things First, Elevate Pre-K, and the Workforce Development Board.

Welcome home, Sarah! Here we are at the ribbon cutting for the second of Habitat for Humanity's tiny homes.

I'm a proud Fellow with the Flinn-Brown Fellowship through the AZ Center for Civic Leadership!

Our emergency dispatchers are the unsung heroes of public safety. Here I am with Katie Brandis and Celeste during a tour of the dispatch center.

I, along with Supervisor Patrice Horstman convened eight local and regional animal rescue groups for a facilitated retreat on how they can better partner and attract increased funding to their work.

We signed our Sister Cities agreement with Navajoa, Mexico alongside several other AZ cities & cities throughout the state of Sonora. Regina Salas, Gail Jackson, me, Mayor Jorge Alberto Elías Retes, Consul General of Mexico in Phx Jorge Mendoza Yescas. “Flagstaff Sister Cities’ mission is to build international friendship and goodwill, one person, one city at a time. We accomplish this through youth, cultural, educational and economic exchanges and networking.”

In 2023, I was awarded the Housing Hero Award from the Arizona Department of Housing.

I was eager to participate in this press conference touting the benefits and opportunities of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Flagstaff has several climate-related projects for which we hope to obtain IRA funding.

The Flagstaff City Council unanimously supported a Resolution in support of the creation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. I and Vice Mayor Aslan advocated for it at a meeting with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and again at a meeting with the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. When President Biden came to Arizona to declare the land a monument, dozens of supporters gathered to cheer. Here I am with Coconino Supervisor Lena Fowler, Hopi Tribal Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma, Tribal Vice Chairman Craig Andrews, and other dignitaries and supporters.

I'm interested in how our community can be the best supporters and advocates for education of all levels in Flagstaff. Here I am on a tour of the Career and Technical Education programs at Flagstaff and Coconino High Schools.

Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke and I were in the same cohort of Flinn-Brown Fellows. Here we are at the annual convention celebrating my award as the "2022 Northern Arizona Champion."

I asked artist Kayley Quick if her students would be interested in painting a mural on my office walls. Much time was spent discussing what "community" means and favorite spots in the greater Flagstaff area. Then Kayley Quick and her co-teacher Katie Cochran shared the draft mural with various community leaders to get input and perspectives. We spent a great weekend in my office painting, listening to music, and eating pizza! We held a reception for the students and their families and other supporters when it was finished.

Our first Downtown Pinecone Drop since COVID! The feeling was electric as we rang in the New Year together. Here I am reading a Mayoral Proclamation to the crowd just before midnight.

Before I was even sworn in, I was invited to the White House along with 13 other new mayors to meet with several Cabinet Secretaries and learn more about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Each shared the types of projects that could qualify for funding and introduced us to staff who could help us to apply. I was shocked when President Biden walked in and spent a good while discussing the BIL as well as issues our cities are facing. He then invited us into the Oval Office!

Within days of the election, I was invited to join a group of 25 newly elected mayors from around the country at the Bloomberg-Harvard New Mayors Program. Held on Harvard's campus and taught by Harvard faculty, we spent three days together studying leadership case studies and hearing from current and former U.S. Mayors about myriad issues facing our communities.

Flagstaff Mark Kelly Host Committee -- me, Harriett Young, Senator Kelly, County Supervisor Patrice Horstman, and Bill Auberle.

Flagstaff Mark Kelly campaign event -- Vice Mayor Miranda Sweet, Councilmember Khara House, Councilmember Austin Aslan, and me.

I attended a digital equity discussion with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Director of Digital Equity & the Digital Equity Institute. The ongoing discussion is part of the $65B investment from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

We deliver yard signs! Do you want one? Email us your address! info@beckydaggett.com Photo by Debbie Leavitt

Primary election night with Vice Mayor Sweet and Councilmembers Shimoni and Aslan.

"With a grant from the City of Flagstaff Beautification Commission Jesse Yazzie and Jaymie Shepard have designed a beautiful mural to be applied to the sides of the bus. The design reflects their own background and vision as rising Navajo (Dine) artists and their own personal histories." I encourage you to learn more about the work of Community Assistance Teams! https://cats-of-flagstaff.org

Residents of Coconino Estates were slammed by flooding from the Pipeline Fire burn scar. Many people came together to fill and transport sandbags and stack them outside homes. The City is working on a detention basin to capture floodwater before it makes it to this neighborhood. There's still work to do to mitigate flooding from the Pipeline and Museum fires and to treat watersheds surrounding Flagstaff to lower our risk for catastrophic wildfire.

Killip Elementary's ribbon cutting for their new campus--which is beautiful!

I had a great meeting with Armando Ruiz, Coconino County Assessor. I was seeking to better understand property valuations and whether there are taxation strategies to address affordable housing. One idea is to tax "Short Term Rentals" at the higher commercial rate of 17% rather than at the current residential rate of 10%. This change would need to be made by the Arizona Legislature.

I walked in the "Cherish the Moments" walk in support of the Northern Arizona Alzheimer's and Dementia Alliance (NAZADA). Pictured here with my dear friend Gretchen. https://nazada.org/

I took a lamp and a shirt to the "Fix it Clinic" in July 2022. You can get most anything fixed for free! https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/3231/Fix-it-Clinic

I enjoyed a lovely afternoon supporting Kris Mayes for Attorney General. Here I am with Kara Kelty and Kris.

We had a blast at the 4th of July parade and I'm grateful to everyone who helped decorate and walked with us!

County Supervisor Patrice Horstman and I showing support for the "Educators' Budget" which would designate $1.7M out of Arizona's $5.3B surplus to education.

I'm so proud and honored to be endorsed by Arizona List!

My City Council swearing in ceremony

Deputy Consul General of Mexico, Armando Manuel Esparza Miranda and I at the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association/Market of Dreams annual Fiesta de Independencia.

Areina Contreras and I visiting with Sunnyside neighbors following flooding, Summer 2021

Congressman Tom O’Halleran, Coconino National Forest Supervisor Laura Jo West and I during a tour of Museum Fire burn scar

Spent some time with the AZ Local 1912 talking about workforce training opportunities. Absolutely loved seeing all the women working through the training program! May 2022

I had a blast emceeing The Literacy Center's Spelling Bee in April 2022. This is one of my favorite events! Photo by Larry Hendricks

Removing mud from the backyard of a family impacted by flooding off of the Museum Fire burn scar

Councilmember Sweet and I in front of a mural in Sunnyside as we went door-to-door to talk to business owners about flooding

Celebrating Mrs. Cleo Wilson Murdoch at the annual Ms. Cleo’s Tea Party. Mrs. Murdoch was the second teacher and principal of the segregated Paul Laurence Dunbar School from 1926-1940. A pillar of the Flagstaff community, she graduated from Winslow High School and went on to the first Historically Black College west of the Mississippi: Western University in Kansas and then Arizona State Teacher’s College, now known as NAU. Coconino County Supervisor Patrice Horstman, me, Councilmember Miranda Sweet, and former Mayor Dr. Coral Evans.

Jim Babbitt was a beloved community leader and my dear friend. I was honored to be asked to participate in the video for the Viola Legacy Award and delighted to be asked to present the award to Jim's family at the 2022 Viola Awards.

Flagstaff Shelter Services has been on the front line of community response to COVID. From the beginning, they helped to protect the most medically vulnerable by paying for private rooms at a local motel. When our unsheltered neighbors contracted COVID, they, too, were housed in private motel rooms in order to recover and help stop the spread. On April 30, 2022 Flagstaff celebrated the housewarming of The Crown, a motel that FSS purchased that is already serving as emergency housing. Here I am with Executive Director Ross Schaefer.

Stuff the Bus for Flagstaff Family Food Center, November 2021

Being interviewed about the summer 2021 Museum Fire flooding. The Andy Harvey Indigenous Youth Media Workshop is held at NAU each summer. These students asked many insightful questions! https://nau.edu/communication/summer-workshops/

City driver Mike and I out after a storm clearing snow and spreading cinders

Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Mark Cox gave Councilmember Miranda Sweet and I a tour of one of their facilities

Councilmembers Sweet and Aslan and I at the Independent Redistricting Commission meeting

Katalyst Space Technologies staff, city staff, Councilmembers Sweet and Salas, and I on a tour of the city's incubator and accelerator

Devon Forrest and Trever Davis (Guidance Center staff), Councilmember Sweet, and I during a tour of their renovated facilities

Catholic Charities PATH program staffer Sarah allowed me to ride along on her rounds to visit her clients and check in with people we spotted around town to see whether they needed assistance. "PATH (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) program utilizes specially trained staff and volunteers to connect seriously mentally ill homeless with psychiatric treatment and housing."

Volunteering at the Flagstaff Family Food Center is fun and so meaningful. It's a bonus when you get to see a good friend!

Enjoying a Mother Road Brewery Lowell Lager at the I ❤️ Pluto Festival. Councilmember Miranda Sweet and I.