Only Bentley Torcal in the Country to Make a Special Appearance Nov. 7 at WestWorld

Bentley Scottsdale is bringing an extraordinary piece of automotive history to the 15th annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships next weekend. The legendary British automaker’s first fully electric vehicle, the Bentley Torcal, will make a special appearance at WestWorld Saturday, Nov. 7, adding another element of luxury to an event already known for its impressive automobiles, world-class polo, fashion and entertainment. The Torcal’s appearance is especially noteworthy because it’s currently the only one of its kind in the United States.

“This is an incredibly special car, and the fact that we’re bringing the only one in the country to Scottsdale makes it even more exciting,” said Beli Merdovic, General Manager of Bentley Scottsdale. “The Torcal has everything people have come to expect from Bentley, but it also takes performance and technology in a whole new direction. It’s a rare opportunity to have a vehicle this extraordinary at the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships.”

For more than 100 years, Bentley has made a name for itself building some of the world’s most prestigious automobiles, with the all-electric Torcal offering a fresh take on the brand’s long-standing approach to design. The first all-new Bentley in a decade, the Torcal has a bold exterior with a diamond-inspired grille, while its interior combines Bentley’s signature handcrafted finishes with modern digital features. The SUV also has an unusual namesake: El Torcal de Antequera, a region in southern Spain famous for its limestone rock formations, many of which have taken on unusual shapes over time.

The Torcal’s appearance adds to the excitement surrounding the Nov. 7 event, which will also feature hundreds of luxury, exotic and collector vehicles, three polo matches, fashion shows, rugby, live music and other entertainment.

On the polo field, New Orleans Polo Club will face Arizona Polo Club, while defending champion England Select Polo Team will take on the Dark Horse Dallas All-Stars. The Semper Fi Heating and Cooling Military Matchup will also see Army and Navy face off in another patriotic showdown just days before Veterans Day.

Beyond polo, guests can catch the nationally ranked San Diego Old Aztecs taking on the Scottsdale Blues in the Rugby Opener, Phoenix Fashion Week’s The World’s “Longest” Fashion Show, Lugari Pet Salon’s Canine Couture: A Dog Fashion Show Like No Other and Nashville-based Moo Country’s Cowboy & Cowgirl Couture, “How The West Is Worn.”

As the sun sets, Walter Productions will bring out Kalliope, its massive art car and mobile sound stage, for a concert featuring nationally renowned electronic music duo Phantoms.

VIP luxury lounges, food and drinks, brand experiences and an impressive collection of automobiles will round out the day’s festivities.

Tickets start at $50 and are on sale now at ThePoloParty.com along with additional information about tables and sponsorship opportunities. Premium experiences include Prime, a Luxury Tent Experience by Bentley Scottsdale, Neiman Marcus, Barrett-Jackson and Maple & Ash; The Scottsdale Maserati Drivers & Players VIP Lounge; the Barrett-Jackson Champagne & Jazz Lounge; All Access passes; and Sideline Parking packages.

Monterra at WestWorld of Scottsdale is welcoming a new chapter after city renovations transformed the longtime venue into a fully climate-controlled space for weddings, corporate gatherings and community celebrations year-round.

City officials and WestWorld partners celebrated the reopening with a ribbon-cutting and open house Oct. 23. Under city operation for the first time since originally opening in 1990, Monterra also offers an on-site setting for receptions and banquets associated with WestWorld’s signature events.

“Bringing Monterra back into city operation gives us an opportunity to make better use of a community asset,” said City Manager Greg Caton. “These improvements expand what WestWorld can offer throughout the year, whether we’re hosting a local celebration or welcoming visitors for one of Scottsdale’s signature events.”

Monterra has been part of WestWorld since 1990. It operated under a private agreement until November 2024, when the City Council approved bringing the operating rights to the city, which now manages Monterra as a rental facility within city-owned and operated WestWorld.

Before reopening, the city installed a new heating and cooling system and roof, replaced indoor and outdoor flooring, painted the interior and exterior, and upgraded restrooms to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

The venue features a ballroom with a full bar, three outdoor function spaces and patios overlooking the WestWorld polo field toward the McDowell Mountains. The combination offers options for corporate meetings, private parties, conventions, galas and weddings.

“Monterra pairs views of the McDowell Mountains with the convenience of being right here at WestWorld,” said WestWorld Director Cassie Johnson. “With the new climate-control system and updated spaces, we can welcome guests year-round and help event organizers bring everything from a wedding reception to a large banquet together in one location.”

M Culinary Concepts, WestWorld’s food and beverage partner, provides exclusive catering and bar service.

Daily rental rates are $3,000 Thursday through Sunday and $750 Monday through Wednesday. The City Council approved the rates in September as a one-year pilot informed by a market study of comparable venues. Monterra is at 16601 N. Pima Road. For booking information, call WestWorld’s sales manager at 480-312-6815 or visit Monterra at WestWorld.

Anyone Can Sign Up to Participate in the All-Day Wiffle Ball Tournament Before Shane Doan and Other Arizona Personalities Compete in a Primetime Celebrity Home Run Derby

Scottsdale Stadium is trading Major League Baseball for wiffle ball this weekend when Big League Wiffle Ball brings its seventh annual Western Wiffle Ball Classic to the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants Saturday, Oct. 24. The tournament gives spectators a chance to see just how competitive the familiar backyard game can get when experienced players take the field, putting their pitching, hitting and defensive skills to the test in front of fans of all ages. For those who want to do more than watch, participants can register a team of three to five players at blwwiffleball.com, competing in a separate division from the pros.

“Most people have played wiffle ball at some point, but they have no idea how exciting it gets at this level,” said Big League Wiffle Ball founder Logan Rose. “We want everyone to come out to watch or participate and share our love for America’s greatest backyard sport.”

The action continues at 7 p.m. with Big League Wiffle Ball’s inaugural celebrity Home Run Derby, which will bring Arizona Coyotes legend Shane Doan and other familiar Arizona personalities to the plate to compete against local hitters for a $1,000 prize.

Doan spent 21 seasons in the NHL and became the Coyotes’ all-time leading scorer. Now, the former captain will see how his skills translate to hitting wiffle balls, going to bat against competitors that include baseball influencers DSARM and Damian Henderson, local influencer @mrazsports and radio personality Johnjay Van Es. Altogether, eight celebrities will participate in the derby.

Local hitters can also compete for a spot. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., anyone interested can pay $10 for a qualifying attempt, giving them 60 seconds to hit as many home runs as they can. The eight participants with the most home runs will then advance to the evening’s open bracket, with the celebrity and open-bracket winners facing off against each other in the final round.

Whether coming for the tournament, the Home Run Derby or both, spectators can spend the day watching a sport that uses familiar equipment, but demands considerably more skill than the typical backyard game.

For tickets or to learn more about Big League Wiffle Ball, check out BLWiffleBall.com or follow developments on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.

For sponsorship or general questions, email lrose@blwwiffleball.com.

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) — A striking new work of Western art is coming to the heart of Old Town Scottsdale this December. Way of the Wild, 1832, an eight-foot-tall bronze monument by acclaimed Western artist John Coleman, will be permanently installed near the entrance of Western Spirit Museum, creating a new public art experience for residents and visitors alike.

The monument, generously donated by Western Spirit Trustee Howie Alper, will be unveiled at a private ceremony on December 1 before going on public display.

“John has an extraordinary ability to tell a story through bronze and to capture the strength, character and spirit of the American West,” Alper said. “Way of the Wild, 1832 is a powerful piece, and I wanted it to be somewhere people could experience and enjoy it for generations. Western Spirit is the perfect home for it, and I’m proud that it will now welcome visitors to the museum.”

Way of the Wild, 1832 depicts a lone hunter standing tall and confident, his gaze directed into the distance. The commanding figure evokes the independence, determination and uncertainty of life in the American West during the early 19th century.

Positioned just outside the Smithsonian Affiliate museum, the monument will offer visitors an introduction to the stories, people and artistry of the West before they even step through the museum’s doors.

The installation further extends Western Spirit’s collection beyond the walls of the museum, creating a prominent new piece of public art for residents and visitors to experience year-round.

Visitors inspired by Way of the Wild, 1832 can discover more of John Coleman’s work inside Western Spirit Museum in the ongoing exhibition, Collecting Stories: John Coleman Bronzes from the Collection of Frankie and Howard Alper.Read More

Cybersecurity Awareness Month Brings New Warning as AI Helps Fraudsters Create More Convincing Emails, Calls, Texts and Identities

“Think before you click.”

That advice has been around for years, but artificial intelligence is making it harder to tell whether an email, text or other message comes from a legitimate source or a scammer. Bad spelling, awkward grammar and suspicious-looking email addresses once made many scams relatively easy to spot. Not anymore.

As Cybersecurity Awareness Month gets underway in October, Scottsdale Community Bank is warning consumers that artificial intelligence can now help clone voices, generate deepfake images and videos, and even fabricate identification documents that can make a scam appear to be surprisingly legitimate.

“The days of bad spelling, bad grammar and fuzzy logos are over,” said Steve Cohen, Scottsdale Community Bank’s EVP, Enterprise Risk Manager, COO and CCO. “Current AI technology has replaced many of those traditional clues with polished and personalized messages using correct spelling and grammar, voice cloning and deepfake photos or video. Consumers who assume they can tell whether or not an email, text or phone call is legitimate can quickly get into trouble if they don’t take the time to independently verify them.”

Cohen said some of the biggest threats banks and consumers face today don’t depend on sophisticated hacking. Instead, criminals often manipulate people into handing over their own money, passwords, security codes or other information through “social engineering.”

While phishing and impersonation scams aren’t new, criminals now have far more ways to make them convincing. Some use AI to mimic people or businesses, while others lure victims with fake investments, job offers, online shopping deals or romantic relationships. Identity theft, ransomware and other types of malware also add to the growing list of threats.

Scammers may also impersonate banks, themselves. Cohen said it raises a red flag when an unexpected call, text or email creates a sense of urgency, especially if it seems to be coming from someone in a position of authority or from a family member or friend. The same holds true if the sender threatens consequences unless another party acts quickly. Requests for passwords, authentication codes or money also warrant taking a closer look, as do instructions to click on a link, open an attachment, install software or purchase gift cards or cryptocurrency.

“A legitimate call from your bank will never include a request for your personal access credentials, including usernames, passwords or security authentication codes,” Cohen said. “Banks already have verified ways to contact their clients, so there is no need to provide confidential identifying information in response to an unexpected call, text or email.”

Cohen added that Scottsdale Community Bank clients can always contact a live person directly to verify the legitimacy of a call, email or other correspondence before taking action.

Consumers may also invite criminals in without realizing it. Cohen said banks often see issues resulting from reused or easily guessed passwords, unexpected email attachments and links, missed software or security updates, and using unencrypted public Wi-Fi. Trusting caller ID can also prove risky, as can sharing too much personal information online or failing to regularly review bank and credit card activity.

“Scams have become much more sophisticated, and anyone can encounter one that looks or sounds convincing,” said Scottsdale Community Bank President and CEO Neill LeCorgne. “We want people to know what to look for before something happens and, just as importantly, what to do if they realize they’ve made a mistake. A few minutes spent independently verifying a request can make a huge difference.”

Cohen said consumers who believe they’ve been victimized by a scam should take immediate action. Anyone who believes a computer or device has become compromised should disconnect it from the internet and contact the bank from another device, using a phone number from a bank statement, debit card, official website or mobile app rather than using contact information given in the suspicious message.

Consumers should also tell their banks right away if they transferred money or distributed any verification or security codes. Cohen also recommends changing potentially compromised passwords, placing fraud alerts with the three major credit bureaus and closely monitoring bank accounts and credit reports for activity they don’t recognize. Consumers can also report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission and law enforcement.

For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Cohen recommends that consumers take these three steps to make it harder for scammers to succeed:

• Never assume a scam will be easy to spot. Be skeptical of any unexpected or unusual calls, emails and texts and independently verify requests using known, trusted contact information.
• Never share passwords, security codes or other sensitive or identifying information in response to an unexpected request.
• Slow down when a message demands immediate action. Read it carefully and independently verify anything that raises doubts before clicking a link, opening an attachment, sending money or providing information.

“Think before you click” remains simple advice, Cohen said, but advances in technology are making reminders particularly important.

For more about Scottsdale Community Bank, visit ScottsdaleCommunityBank.com.

Difference Makers is our ongoing series spotlighting the people and organizations across the Valley who are quietly changing lives through their work. This installment turns the spotlight on Oscar De las Salas. Oscar has spent nearly three decades turning design into a form of civic leadership.

A Colombian-born architect trained in Bogotá, Colombia and Salamanca, Spain, he went from designing U.S. embassies abroad and doing Design Administration for the famed Italian furniture house CASSINA, to leading business development for Gensler’s Phoenix office, all while chairing Artlink and serving on the boards and committees of the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Phoenix Art Museum, and other Valley arts institutions.

This spring he was part of the team behind the ARTrageous Gala celebrating Scottsdale Arts’ 50th anniversary, the latest chapter in a career that’s helped raise an estimated $30 million for local causes. Here, he talks about that journey, how he leads across so many rooms at once, and what keeps him showing up for this community. 

• You trained as an architect in Bogotá and Spain, and your early career took you around the world designing U.S. embassies. What first pulled you toward architecture, and how did that path lead you to build a life and career here in the Valley?

I think architecture first attracted me because it sits at the intersection of art, culture, and human experience.

A building is never just a building, and a master plan is never just a master plan, both reflect who we are, what we value, and how we choose to live together.

My journey began in Bogotá and continued through my architectural education in Spain. Early in my career, I had the extraordinary opportunity to work on U.S. embassies around the world, including Bolivia, Colombia, Singapore, and Guantánamo Bay. Those experiences taught me that architecture is also a form of diplomacy. Regardless of where we come from, the spaces we create have the power to connect people, express identity, and build trust across cultures.

After completing my master’s coursework in interior architecture, I needed to fulfill a faculty requirement, “Internships”, which led me to accept a position in Padua, Italy, with a design house. I became responsible for administering the design and opening of new stores throughout the Mediterranean and Western Europe. It was an extraordinary opportunity to experience design across many European cities while expanding my understanding beyond architecture itself, from history and cultural traditions to complex technical solutions, financial operations, and the business behind design.

I came to Arizona in 1998 to pursue graduate thesis research on Frank Lloyd Wright and American Modernism.

What began as an academic journey became something much more personal. I found a profound connection to the Sonoran Desert.  Its light, its landscape, its resilience, and the way architecture can respond to a place rather than simply occupy it. What seduced me the most? Its people. The desert dwellers.

Over time, Arizona became home.

I realized that what drew me here was not just the opportunity to practice architecture, but the opportunity to help shape the future of a region with an extraordinary sense of possibility. I saw a place that had the potential to lead, and a city whose vision, planning, and ambition reflected the belief that Phoenix could become a city of the future.

Today, my work at Gensler brings together all those experiences.

Through relationship building, business development, and a keen understanding of business strategy, I connect people, ideas, and opportunities to help our communities thrive. In many ways, I have never really left the world of design behind. I have simply expanded my understanding of what it means to build… not only buildings, but relationships, communities, and a lasting sense of place.

• Somewhere along the way, the work stopped being just about buildings and became about advocating for the arts and this community more broadly. Was there a specific moment that shifted you from practicing architect to community champion?

I don’t know if there was one defining moment. I think it was an evolution… a realization that the impact of architecture extends far beyond the buildings we design.

Throughout my career, working across different countries and cultures, I learned that the places we create influence how people connect, how communities express their identity, and how we understand one another. Over time, I began to see that the same principles that make great design possible… listening, building trust, creating connections, and understanding a community’s aspirations, also apply to building a stronger city.

When I first moved downtown in Phoenix, I saw a region with extraordinary potential. I connected with the artists and creatives who were helping shape the downtown scene, and I became part of the Roosevelt Row creative community in its early days. I was involved in the happenings at the Icehouse, helped design sets for fashion shows, hosted events as an emcee, and spent evenings and weekends volunteering to bring art openings to life.

At that time, art was a catalyst for creating a city, generating momentum, bringing people together, and building a sense of community. I experienced firsthand how creativity could transform not just a space, but the way people felt about a place and their sense of belonging to it.

The artists and nonprofit organizations I worked alongside recognized my interest and commitment. They invited me in, asked me to participate, and gave me opportunities to contribute to something bigger than myself. I wanted to be part of that story. Not simply as an architect, but as someone who could help bring people, ideas, and institutions together to move our community forward. 

That naturally led me to become more involved in the arts, civic organizations, and international relationships.

Through organizations such as Artlink, Phoenix Sister Cities, SMoCA, and CALA Alliance, I’ve seen what becomes possible when people come together around a shared vision. The arts are essential because they give a community its voice and identity. They preserve our cultural DNA, tell stories of who we are, and give us the freedom to imagine and express what is possible.

I still see myself as an architect. I think I always will. 

But my understanding of the profession has expanded. Designing a great project is important, but helping create the conditions for a great community to thrive is just as meaningful.

The most lasting impact we make is not always what we build with our hands… it’s what we help build together.

• You’ve built a life and career here that started thousands of miles away, in Bogotá and Salamanca. What part of that journey do you find yourself drawing on most when you’re deciding which causes are worth your time?

I think the greatest lesson I draw from that journey is that, while we may come from different places and cultures, we all share a desire to belong, to contribute, and to leave something meaningful behind.

Growing up in Bogotá, studying in Salamanca, and working across different countries taught me to look at the world through different lenses. My work on U.S. embassies showed me how important trust and cultural understanding are. And my experience in architecture taught me to look beyond what is immediately visible. To understand the people, the stories, and the aspirations behind a place.

That perspective is what guides me when I decide where to invest my time.

I ask myself: Does this organization make our community stronger? Does it create opportunities for people to connect, participate, and feel that they belong? Can I help expand its reach and create momentum for its mission? Are my talents and experience being put to their best use? Can I bring my relationships, business strategy, knowledge of economic development, and broader perspective to help move its mission forward?

The arts are particularly important to me because they preserve our cultural DNA. They tell us where we come from, help us understand one another, and give us the freedom to imagine where we can go.

I also believe deeply in the power of the arts to drive economic development, strengthen international relationships, and serve as a window into who we are as a community. Culture can open doors, build bridges between people and nations, and create opportunities that extend far beyond the arts themselves. And when we combine that with meaningful civic engagement, we can create opportunities that improve people’s lives.

Ultimately, I don’t think about community service simply as giving my time to an organization. I think about it as investing in the kind of city we want to become.

Phoenix has given me an incredible place to build a life and a career. I feel a responsibility, and honestly, a privilege, to give something back. To help this region realize its potential and become a place where people from different backgrounds can thrive together.

For me, that commitment is also a way of saying thank you to Arizona. A region and a state that welcomed someone who came here from somewhere else with the desire to contribute, to be part of the conversation and to help make a difference.

For me, the question is not simply which causes are worth my time. It’s where my experience, and my passion can make a difference that contributes to the betterment of it all and one that lasts not decades, ages!

• Who or what inspires you day to day, whether that’s a person, a project, or a moment that reminded you why this work matters?

I think what inspires me day to day is people… people who have a vision, who believe in something, and who are willing to put in the work to make it happen.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of meeting extraordinary people across different cultures, disciplines, and communities. What has always inspired me is that moment when someone sees a possibility that others may not see yet and have the courage to pursue it.

I find that especially in the arts and in our community. Artists, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders often work with limited resources but an incredible amount of passion. They believe in what they are doing, and they bring others along with them. Watching that kind of commitment turn an idea into something that brings people together is incredibly rewarding.

I’m also inspired by Phoenix itself.

This is a region that is still defining what it wants to become. There is so much talent, creativity, and ambition here, and I believe we have an opportunity to shape a city that is not only economically successful, but culturally rich, globally connected, and meaningful to the people who call it home.

And sometimes, inspiration comes from something much simpler. A conversation, a new connection between two people who should know each other, or seeing an idea begin to gain momentum because someone took the time to make an introduction. That is what keeps me engaged. I love connecting the dots! Bringing people, ideas, and opportunities together and watching something happen that might not have happened otherwise.

For me, that is when the work really matters: when the relationships we build lead to something tangible, something that makes our community stronger, and something that will continue to have an impact long after the initial conversation is over.

• You’ve helped raise an estimated $30 million for Valley charities over the years. Is there one specific moment or story from that work, a person who helped or a program funded, that has stuck with you?

The large events allow me to have a broader impact, but one of the experiences I remember most clearly happened on Thanksgiving Day, when I volunteered to serve food at a shelter in downtown Phoenix.

Whenever I volunteer to serve a meal, I make it a point to have a conversation with the people I am serving. I believe that beyond providing a meal, we have an opportunity to offer something just as important. Human connection, dignity, and the feeling that someone sees you.

That morning, I sat next to a woman who was impeccably dressed, very articulate, and gracious. We began talking about her life, and she shared how a difficult relationship and a series of circumstances had left her without the money to pay her rent. She was looking for a job, trying to put her life back together, and that Thanksgiving she had no one to spend the day with. She had come to the shelter because she needed a place to sleep that night.

We talked for a while. I shared information about places where she could find help, offered some words of encouragement, and challenged her to find the discipline and determination to rebuild her life. I wanted her to know that her circumstances at that moment did not have to define her future. I left her with a list of places where opportunities could be found. 

Months later, I was driving through a coffee shop when she recognized me. 

She almost jump out of the window when she saw me pulling in. She came over and told me that our conversation had changed her life. She had found help through the resources we discussed, gotten a job at the restaurant, found a place to live, rebuilt relationships with her family, and even found a new partner.

She was so excited that she told the people around her who I was. Then she came over to hug me, and we both found ourselves in tears.

I will never forget that moment.

I am proud of the collective impact we have made through fundraising and the many organizations I have supported over the years. Raising millions of dollars matters because it allows organizations to expand their reach and change lives. But that Thanksgiving morning reminded me that impact is not always measured in dollars, the size of an event, or the number of people in a room.

It was not a fundraiser in a ballroom. It was a simple conversation with another human being whose life had taken an unexpected turn, but whose potential to find her way forward was still there.

That experience reminded me that we never really know what a conversation, a little encouragement, or a connection to the right resources might mean to someone who is struggling. Sometimes, we can help someone see a path forward when they may have difficulty seeing one themselves.

And that, to me, is what building a stronger community is all about. The large events allow us to reach more people, but sometimes the most meaningful impact begins with something much simpler, taking the time to see another person, listening to their story, and believing in their potential to begin again.

• Between your role at Gensler, chairing Artlink, sitting on multiple museum and civic boards, teaching at ASU, and co-chairing galas, you’re operating at a pace most people couldn’t sustain. What does your actual leadership style look like when you’re juggling that many rooms at once?

I think my leadership style has evolved over the years, just as I have evolved professionally. 

At its core, it is still about solving problems, but today, I also bring a strong strategic perspective to the table.

When I first became involved in the community, I was the volunteer who showed up, rolled up my sleeves, and did the work. I spent hours on the ground helping make events happen, supporting organizations, and doing whatever was needed. I still do that, and I always will. I believe that if you care about a mission, you should be willing to contribute at every level.

But over time, something changed, things changed!  As I gained experience, built relationships, and developed a deeper understanding of business strategy and economics, I found that organizations increasingly looked to me for something beyond execution. They began asking me to help them step back, see the bigger picture, navigate complex situations, and determine a path forward.

Today, I am often asked to help organizations think through their strategy, strengthen their structure, identify fundraising opportunities, rethink how they operate, and develop business plans that can support their long-term sustainability. Sometimes the challenge is financial. Sometimes it is organizational. Sometimes is branding and communication, social media these days. Sometimes an organization has a great mission but needs to rethink how it is positioned, how it engages its stakeholders, or how it builds the partnerships necessary to grow.

I have developed a keen sense of how to look at these challenges from different perspectives, identify the underlying issues, and help bring clarity to situations that may initially seem complicated. And I have reached a point in my career where my voice is heard, a point where people trust my judgment, where I am able to create consensus in a board, a point where they value my perspective, and invite me to help shape decisions, not just carry them out.

My work at Gensler reinforces that every day. 

As Director of Client Relationships and Business Development, I must understand not only what our clients need today, but also where their organizations are going, what challenges they face, and how we can help them achieve their ambitions. My recent certification as an Arizona Professional Economic Developer through AAED has further strengthened my understanding of how business, investment, civic leadership, and community development intersect.

I bring that same perspective to my work with the arts and civic organizations. I don’t see these commitments as separate rooms. I see them as connected parts of a larger ecosystem. The relationships, ideas, and experience I gain in one setting often help me see opportunities in another.

And when you are involved in many organizations, you must be intentional. I cannot do everything, nor should I. My responsibility is to understand where I can add the greatest value, bring the right people together, and help create a strategy that others can believe in and execute.

So, yes, I still put on my boots and get to work. But today, I am just as likely to be helping an organization determine where it needs to go, how it needs to organize itself, and what plan will get it there.

For me, leadership is knowing when to roll up your sleeves and do the work, and when to step back, seeing the bigger picture, and helping others find the strategy that will move them forward.

• This spring you were part of the ARTrageous Gala marking Scottsdale Arts’ 50th anniversary. What did it mean to help lead that milestone celebration, and what surprised you most about how the community showed up for it?

Being participant of the ARTrageous Gala celebrating Scottsdale Arts’ 50th anniversary was a real privilege. Always is! Fifty years is more than a milestone for an organization.  It is a celebration of the people, the vision, and the commitment that have helped shape the cultural identity of a community.

I have always believed that the arts are much more than something we experience in a gallery, a theater, or a public space. They are part of our cultural DNA. They tell our stories, challenge us to think differently, bring people together, and help define the kind of community we want to become.

What made this celebration especially meaningful was the opportunity to help honor that legacy while looking ahead to the next 50 years. The arts need champions! People who understand their value not only to our quality of life, but also to our economy, our identity, and our ability to attract talent, investment, and visitors to our region.

What continues to inspire me is seeing what happens when people come together around something they believe in. 

A gala is one evening, but the impact behind it can extend far beyond that room. It creates momentum, strengthens relationships, and reminds us that supporting the arts is an investment in the future of our community.

And perhaps that is what I appreciate most… The realization that a thriving cultural community doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people care enough to show up, contribute, and believe in what we can accomplish together.

For me, that is the real celebration and not simply looking back at 50 years of achievement but helping create the conditions for the next generation of artists, ideas, and cultural experiences to flourish.

• Take us through what “the work” actually looks like day to day, moving between architecture, business development, teaching, and arts advocacy. How do those different worlds inform each other?

My day-to-day work is certainly diverse… and that is exactly what I love about it.

I have never been someone who sees the world through a single lens. I am naturally curious about how things work, how people connect, and how we bring different perspectives together to create something meaningful.

At Gensler, my work in client relationships and business development goes far beyond making introductions or identifying new opportunities. It is about listening, building trust, understanding our clients’ ambitions, and helping turn those ambitions into reality. I support leadership in reviewing proposal and fiscal responsibilities, follow projects as they develop, support our teams, and staying connected with clients to make sure we are delivering on our commitments. Sometimes, the work is about recognizing an opportunity. Other times, it is about creating one that didn’t exist before.

My background in architecture and business administration allows me to look at these relationships from both a design and a business perspective. I understand how places are conceived, how they influence people’s lives, how financial health affects an organization’s ability to move forward, and how to align a client’s vision with the practical realities of making it happen.

Teaching and lecturing at ASU give me another dimension. I share what I have learned throughout my career, but I also continue to learn from the questions, ideas, and perspectives of others. Students remind me that the future is never simply an extension of the past and that sometimes, asking a different question is the beginning of a better solution.

Then there is my involvement in the arts and civic organizations. Through Artlink, museums, Phoenix Sister Cities, The Rio Reimagined board of directors, ambassador at GPEC and other community organizations, I see firsthand how culture, economic development, philanthropy, and civic leadership intersect. The arts are not separate from the business of building a city. They help define its identity, attract people and investment, create opportunities, and give people a reason to feel connected to the place they call home.

What fascinates me is how often these worlds inform one another. 

A conversation through a civic organization can lead to a new relationship or opportunity at Gensler. A business strategy I help develop can strengthen a nonprofit’s ability to fulfill its mission. An international relationship can open doors to cultural exchange, investment, and new ways of thinking about our future or investing in our city and region.

I don’t see these commitments as separate worlds competing for my time. 

I see these commitments as parts of a larger ecosystem, and my role is often to connect the dots. But, of course, no one does that alone!

A very special shout-out to Whitney Nelson, my executive assistant and the mastermind behind my calendar and so much of my day-to-day coordination. Whitney does far more than keep things organized. She understands how all the pieces fit together, brings incredible knowledge and guidance to my work, and helps turn what can sometimes feel like a thousand moving parts into a meaningful whole. I am incredibly grateful to have her by my side.

And I have to recognize the leadership in my Gensler Phoenix office, who not only understand my passion for our community but encourage and support it.

My boss, Martha dePlazaola Abbott, has been much more than a leader to me. She is a coach on my professional journey, someone who inspires me, challenges me, and reminds me to reach for the stars. Rory Carder has been a tremendous source of support, helping me move ideas and opportunities forward every step of the way. And our Design Director, Jay Silverberg, has an extraordinary ability to distill complex information down to its very essence. I deeply admire that talent, because clarity is often what allows a great idea to become a meaningful action.

I am fortunate to work alongside people who recognize that professional success and community impact don’t have to exist in separate worlds. When you have leaders and colleagues who trust you, support your ambitions, and help you grow, you can contribute in ways that extend far beyond your job description.

The truth is, connecting the dots takes a team. And I am grateful to be surrounded by people who help me see the possibilities, find the clarity, and turn those connections into something meaningful for our work and our community.

Ultimately, whether I am working with a client, teaching a student, supporting an arts organization, or building an international relationship, the underlying purpose is the same: understanding people, recognizing potential, and bringing the right ideas, expertise, and relationships together to make something meaningful happen, and they all have a base in strategy.

And this brings me to a concept I have been developing for a book I hope to write (two chapters ready!), something I call “The Invisible Architecture.”

Before a first line is drawn, before a building takes shape, and before a community sees a project rise from the ground, something else must happen. People must come together around a shared vision. There must be conversations, sometimes difficult ones; trust must be built; priorities must be aligned; and people from different disciplines must find common ground. There are meetings, negotiations, visioning sessions, and countless moments of listening, reconsidering, and reaching agreement.

That is the invisible architecture! The human/community/personal relationships, shared purpose, and collective decisions that make the visible architecture, structures and cities possible.

Because before we can build a place that transforms a community, we must first build the relationships that make that transformation possible. And in the end, the most important thing we build may not be a building at all. It may be the collective will to make a better future possible.

• What’s the biggest misconception people have about arts philanthropy in the Valley, or about what it actually takes to keep organizations like Scottsdale Arts thriving?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that supporting the arts is a luxury. Something we invest in once everything else has been taken care of.

I see it very differently. The arts are not an accessory to a thriving community. They are part of what makes a community thrive in the first place.

When we talk about organizations like Scottsdale Arts, we are talking about much more than exhibitions, performances, or cultural programming. We are talking about education, creativity, and human connection. We are talking about patients and people going through difficult times who find comfort through art, single mothers who find a moment of relief, and children discovering their own voices, creativity, and cultural identity. We are talking about tourism, economic vitality, and the quality of life that makes people want to live, work, invest, and raise their families here.

Another misconception is that philanthropy is simply about writing a check or attending a gala. Those contributions are important, of course, but keeping an arts organization thriving requires a much broader commitment.

It requires civic engagement! 

Keeping the heart of an organization beating through the collective energy of the people who believe in its mission. It takes visionary leadership, responsible business practices, a sustainable financial model, strong community partnerships, committed volunteers, and people who are willing to advocate for that mission year after year. It requires passion for what we have built together, and the determination to keep building on it.

Having worked in architecture, business development, and economic development, I understand that a great vision alone is not enough. You need a strategy to bring it to life. You need to understand your audience, build relationships with stakeholders, diversify your sources of support, and demonstrate the value you bring to the community. 

Arts organizations deserve that same strategic thinking and investment in their long-term sustainability.

I also believe we need to expand the conversation about who benefits from the arts. Their impact reaches far beyond the people who attend a performance or walk through a gallery, and we have the statistics, the economic markers and the research to sustain such stament. The arts help shape the identity of a place, attract talent and visitors, create opportunities for businesses, and make a region more distinctive in an increasingly competitive world. They help tell the story of who we are.

And we should never underestimate the power of beauty. Beauty is not simply an aesthetic luxury. It influences how we experience a place, how we connect with it, and whether we can imagine making it our home. It can become part of the decision to live somewhere, establish a business, attract talent, or invest in a community. Culture and creativity help make a place not just economically viable, but desirable.

That is why I believe supporting the arts is also a form of economic development and civic leadership. When we invest in culture, we invest in the kind of community we want to become.

Ultimately, organizations like Scottsdale Arts cannot thrive through the efforts of a few generous donors or one successful gala. They thrive when an entire community recognizes that their success matters. When businesses, civic leaders, philanthropists, artists, and residents see themselves as partners in sustaining that cultural legacy.

Because a great community is not defined only by the buildings it constructs or the wealth it generates. It is defined by how it makes people feel, what it inspires them to imagine, and whether it gives them a reason to belong. And the arts are at the very heart of that.

• Where do you want to see Scottsdale’s arts and design scene five years from now, and what would it take to get there?

Five years from now, I would love to see Scottsdale recognized not only as a destination for arts and culture, but as a community where arts and design are integral to how the city grows, attracts investment, and connects people to the places they call home all year round.

I would love to see an even stronger connection between Scottsdale’s extraordinary creative community, its business leaders, educational institutions, philanthropists, and civic leadership. We have the talent, the cultural assets, and the entrepreneurial spirit. The opportunity is to bring those strengths together more intentionally and create something even greater than the sum of its parts.

And I would love to see art become a much more visible part of everyday life, in our public spaces, our neighborhoods, our developments, and the places where people gather. I want young people to have greater access to creative experiences, emerging artists to find opportunities to grow, and established cultural organizations to have the resources and partnerships they need to thrive. 

Most importantly, I want the creative community to be recognized as an essential contributor to Scottsdale’s economic vitality, not simply as a beneficiary of its success.

But getting there takes more than great programming, a successful gala, a cocktail party, or a gallery opening. Those experiences are important, but they are only one part of a much larger picture. It takes a shared vision, long-term commitment, and a willingness to invest in culture as part of the city’s future.

It means building stronger public-private partnerships, developing sustainable and diversified economic models, and creating opportunities for artists, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural tastemakers to contribute to the city’s evolution. It means envisioning distinctive arts districts and places with a clear identity, an intentional strategy, and a strong connection to the community. And it means making citizens active participants in that vision. Not simply audiences, but advocates, partners, and sources of ongoing support.

My background has taught me that great places don’t happen by accident. They are the result of intentional decisions, collaboration, and a clear understanding of what we want a place to become. The same is true of a thriving arts ecosystem. We need to think strategically, build relationships across disciplines, and recognize that culture, design, and economic development are deeply interconnected.

I would also love to see Scottsdale’s success inspire the broader Valley, because our cities are not competing only on jobs, infrastructure, or investment. They are also competing on quality of life, identity, creativity, and the experiences that make people want to stay, contribute, and build their future here.

Ultimately, I want us to look back five years from now and know that we did more than celebrate our cultural legacy. We strengthened it, expanded access to it, and created new opportunities for the next generation.

Because the goal is not simply to build a destination where people come to experience art. It is to build a community where creativity shapes how we live, how we connect, how we invest, and who we become. Even during those hot summer months when everyone seems ready to escape the desert. 

Imagine making Scottsdale so creatively vibrant that people have reasons to stay, gather, explore, and connect all year long.

By Councilman Barry Graham

By Alexander Lomax

Arizona’s ballot is long this year. Voters will choose a governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, schools chief, mine inspector and two corporation commissioners. For the first time, they will also elect a lieutenant governor, paired on a ticket with the governor. Early ballots are already coming back, so here is how we see each race finishing on November 3.

First, the weather report. Midterms usually punish the party in the White House, and this one looks no different. Equis Research found that roughly 10% of 2024 Trump voters now back Gov. Katie Hobbs. Moreover, a HighGround survey this month showed Democrats leading in five statewide races. Republicans still hold a voter registration edge of about 300,000. However, both money and mood favor Democrats, and Hobbs alone has outspent Andy Biggs by $12 million.

Governor: Hobbs by 6

Katie Hobbs won in 2022 by fewer than 18,000 votes. This time, nobody will need to watch for a recount.

Hobbs has spent more than $17 million, compared with roughly $5 million for Biggs. Outside groups backing Biggs, led by Turning Point, have spent over $21 million. Still, the Democratic Governors Association has added $14 million, while the Republican Governors Association has spent nothing. That silence says plenty.

Biggs cruised through the primary with 74% and won Trump’s endorsement. Yet his base-first profile limits his reach with independents. Meanwhile, Hobbs chose former Mesa Mayor John Giles, who is running without a party label, as her running mate to court moderate Republicans.

Recent polls range from Hobbs +17 (HighGround) to Hobbs +5.7 (Wick). Expect Republicans to come home late. Even so, Hobbs wins by about six points.

Secretary of State: Fontes by 7

Photo Credit: KJZZ

Adrian Fontes beat Mark Finchem by about 120,000 votes in 2022. His challenger this year, Scottsdale-area state Rep. Alexander Kolodin, is a sharper opponent. He also carries baggage…lots of baggage.

Kolodin was the local attorney in the failed 2020 “kraken” lawsuit. In 2023, the State Bar admonished him and placed him on 18 months’ probation. Additionally, he wrote Prop 144, the voter ID measure on this year’s ballot.

The money gap is wide. Through September, Fontes had spent nearly $2 million to Kolodin’s $210,000. Outside groups have largely sat this one out. Polls show Fontes ahead by 6 to 12 points. Fontes wins by about seven.

Attorney General: Mayes by 4

Photo Credit: KJZZ

This is the tightest of the top-tier races. Senate President Warren Petersen is well known to Republican voters and runs on a law-and-order message. Kris Mayes, meanwhile, has run an aggressive office. She has appealed utility rate decisions and even filed a criminal complaint against the prediction market Kalshi.

Mayes holds the money edge, having spent $5.4 million to Petersen’s $2.1 million. As a result, Petersen has leaned on outside help, including nearly $600,000 from Restore Order Arizona. According to the Arizona Capitol Times, a firm Mayes’s office has sued funneled $600,000 to a PAC backing Petersen. Expect Mayes to make that part of her closing argument.

Polls range from Mayes +1 to Mayes +15. In the end, she wins by about four.

Superintendent of Public Instruction: Leyba Ruiz by 3

Photo Credit: KJZZ

Kimberly Yee has already knocked off one incumbent this year, beating Tom Horne by six points in the primary. She has also won statewide twice as treasurer, so voters know her name.

However, Democrat Teresa Leyba Ruiz, former president of Glendale Community College, has matched her dollar for dollar. Through September, each had spent roughly $325,000. Their sharpest divide is over public school funding and Arizona’s universal voucher program. August polling was split within the margin of error. By October, HighGround showed the Democrat ahead by high single digits. In this environment, Leyba Ruiz edges Yee by about three.

Treasurer: Norton by 2

Here is where Republicans hold the line. Elijah Norton, a former Arizona GOP treasurer, has spent more than $4.3 million, largely from $4.1 million in personal loans. Democrat Nick Mansour, a former nursing college CEO, has spent about $910,000.

That early spending bought Norton something rare in a down-ballot race: name recognition. Moreover, Republicans have held this office for decades, as voters traditionally biased towards Republicans for financial roles. The race has also turned personal, with each candidate questioning the other’s integrity.

Mansour does have one late advantage. He entered October with more than $580,000 on hand, while Norton had under $50,000. Still, in a low-information race which always biases towards the GOP, Norton’s head start should hold. Norton wins by about two.

Mine Inspector: Presmyk by 3

Les Presmyk is a rare creature: a Republican appointed by a Democratic governor. Hobbs named him to the post in 2025, and the law required her to pick another Republican. He touts more than four decades as a mining engineer and has drawn contributions from copper industry executives.

Democrat Brian Matlock, an engineer and mining project manager, questions both that résumé and that money. Presmyk counters that Matlock doesn’t meet the job’s statutory experience requirement. However, Matlock has raised only about $2,200, which isn’t enough to introduce himself to voters. In a race few people follow, incumbency and the GOP registration edge should carry the day. Presmyk wins by about three.

Corporation Commission: A Split Decision

Republicans currently hold every seat on the commission. That makes this race a referendum on utility bills, and voters are frustrated. Data center growth, rate requests and rising costs dominate the debate. Notably, about two-thirds of voters favor more regulation of data centers, according to Equis.

Democrats Clara Pratte and Jonathon Hill say data centers should pay their full infrastructure costs. Incumbent Kevin Thompson and state Rep. Ralph Heap are friendlier to data center growth. All four candidates use public financing, so money is roughly equal.

Thompson’s incumbency should keep his seat safe. Heap, meanwhile, is a first-time statewide candidate with Freedom Caucus ties, which makes him the weakest Republican in a Democratic year. As a result, one Democrat breaks through and ends the commission’s all-Republican lineup. A majority isn’t at stake, but the commission’s tone will change.

The Bottom Line

Democrats should sweep the top of the ticket and win the schools chief race. Meanwhile, Republicans keep the treasurer and mine inspector posts and hold one corporation commission seat. If turnout tilts more Republican than expected, the down-ballot races will tighten first. Either way, Arizona’s purple streak looks a little bluer this year.

By Raoul Zubia

Scottsdale has always been a community that thinks ahead. We protect our open spaces, invest in our neighborhoods, and understand that preserving what makes our city special requires more than promises. It requires planning and action.

That’s why I’m especially proud of last week’s Arizona Court of Appeals decision upholding Proposition 490.

As Vice Chair of Scottsdale’s Protect and Preserve Task Force, I helped develop Proposition 490 because I believed our city needed a responsible, long-term commitment to protecting our parks, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and public safety.

In November 2024, Scottsdale voters agreed. Proposition 490 passed with nearly 60% support.

But not everyone supported that vision. My opponent, Barry Graham, opposed Proposition 490 and worked against the measure. While we were building a plan to protect Scottsdale’s future, others were fighting an investment voters ultimately embraced.

Now, the courts have affirmed the voters’ decision.

The Arizona Court of Appeals rejected the legal challenge, determining that Proposition 490 was not subject to the referendum supermajority requirement asserted by its opponents.

This ruling is about more than a court case. It’s about respecting voters and recognizing that Scottsdale’s greatest assets don’t protect themselves.

Our parks need maintenance. Our Preserve requires stewardship. Our public safety priorities demand sustained attention. These responsibilities don’t disappear because they’re politically inconvenient.

I believe leadership means bringing people together, identifying solutions, and doing the hard work necessary to deliver results.

Proposition 490 is an example of that approach. I was proud to help build it, proud to advocate for it, and proud that Scottsdale residents supported it.

As we consider Scottsdale’s future, I hope we remember this lesson: protecting our quality of life means planning beyond the next election.

The voters spoke. The courts agreed. Now let’s keep moving Scottsdale forward.

Passed by strong majority of voters in November, 2024 to help fund the city’s Preserve, parks and public safety, Arizona Court of Appeals affirms rejection of think tank’s arguments. This is a developing story.

Lovie Smith once led the Chicago Bears to Super Bowl XLI. He later ran the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the University of Illinois and, briefly, the Houston Texans. So when his son Miles became head coach at Mesa’s Desert Ridge High School this year, and brought Dad along as a volunteer assistant, the Jaguars seemed to have hit the coaching lottery. After all, this was a program coming off an 0-10 season.

Less than one season later, both Smiths are gone. Moreover, the saga that got them there reads less like a playbook and more like a reality show pitch.

Photo Credit: Houston Chronicle

The Audible Heard Round the Valley

It started Oct. 2 against Vail Cienega. On the game’s final play, senior quarterback Gunner Brewer changed the call at the line, and his running back scored. Normally, that earns a slap on the helmet. Instead, Brewer says Miles Smith told him he had been disrespected, then cut him on Oct. 5.

In fairness to Brewer, he says his previous offensive coordinator had let him change plays. Unfortunately, that coordinator was fired at the end of September, and apparently the permission slip went with him.

A Show of Hands

On Oct. 7, the team met to discuss the dismissal. One player stood and asked who wanted Brewer back, and plenty of hands went up. A coach then reportedly said anyone who disagreed could leave. Twelve players, five of them seniors, took him up on it. As a result, all twelve were suspended for the rest of the season.

Athletic director Kevin Swann later emailed parents a gentler version. In his telling, the coach had simply invited players to share their thoughts.

Photo Credit: Football Scoop

Enter Lovie

Here’s where things get truly strange. Before the Oct. 9 game against Red Mountain, a booster reportedly walked into the locker room and photographed equipment strewn across the floor. Soon after, video surfaced of Lovie Smith confronting him and warning him never to enter that locker room again. Meanwhile, Miles could be seen holding his father back.

Keep in mind, this is a man who once matched wits with Bill Belichick. Now he was squaring off with a booster parent over a phone photo.

The Jaguars lost that night, 49-7. A week later, they fell 50-0 to Corona del Sol, a game the school refused to let the Arizona Republic cover.

Exit, Stage Left

On Oct. 19, the first day back from fall break, both Smiths resigned. Gilbert Public Schools initially said it hadn’t received anything official, though the principal confirmed the departures two days later. According to 12News, administrators now want to let some suspended players return. Brewer, however, says his high school career is over.

The Takeaway

Coaching legends are allowed to have bad weeks. Still, there’s a lesson here for every sideline, from the NFL down to Friday nights in Mesa. When a teenager’s audible produces a touchdown, the right response is a high five, not a pink slip.

By Raoul Zubia

Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas is right about one thing: Scottsdale has benefited from decades of responsible water planning. But that success should not become an excuse for complacency.

Dubauskas cites Scottsdale’s legal entitlement to 141,000 acre-feet of water annually. What she overlooks is the difference between water rights and water availability. The Colorado River is over-allocated, and legal entitlements cannot guarantee deliveries when supplies decline.

Nor have I argued that Advanced Water Purification is our only solution. Conservation, groundwater management, water banking, and diversified supplies all have important roles. AWP deserves serious consideration as part of that broader strategy, with transparent accounting of its costs and benefits.

Our stored reserves are valuable precisely because they protect us during shortages. They are not a permanent substitute for renewable supplies.

Scottsdale has long been a leader in water management. Protecting that legacy requires acknowledging future risks, examining the evidence, and making responsible investments before a crisis forces our hand.

By Raoul Zubia

Residents are tired of the antics. They just want leaders who will solve problems. 

Michelle Ugenti-Rita and Barry Graham have spent this election telling Scottsdale residents who to fear. Their latest attack on me is long on accusations, short on facts, and completely devoid of the leadership our city deserves. These are accusations that were dismantled and disproven numerous times over the course of the past three months. But they don’t care; to them, repeating lies is a pastime.

I am the water candidate: Planning for future shortages isn’t a hoax. It’s responsible leadership. Scottsdale’s current water security doesn’t eliminate the need to prepare for tomorrow. I support conservation, water recycling, and protecting our aquifers. That’s why I’ve challenged efforts to delay investments in our water future. Denying future risks won’t make them disappear. Posting videos with Rob Schneider isn’t a solution. 

On neighborhoods: I support stronger short-term rental enforcement, greater local control, and development that respects existing neighborhoods. I’ve appeared on several news programs, making my policy clear, and it has been on my website since day 1. My work helping vulnerable families through the Paiute Neighborhood Center reflects a lifetime of community service. Turning that service into a scare tactic is shameful.

On spending and public safety: I believe taxpayer dollars should deliver results: safe streets, reliable infrastructure, strong emergency services, and responsible investments that prevent more expensive problems down the road. Supporting police and firefighters while addressing homelessness and mental health isn’t an ideological agenda. It’s practical governance. I am proud to be supported by police and fire.

On special interests and Axon: I’ve never hidden my support for bringing quality jobs to Scottsdale while demanding responsible development. I’ve also publicly rejected unsolicited endorsements. I’ve consistently supported keeping good-paying jobs in Scottsdale while insisting that any development respect neighborhood concerns, water resources, and appropriate density. Supporting economic opportunity is not a blank check for developers. I do not want more Axon apartments. Only one candidate in this race has voted for MORE APARTMENTS – that’s Barry Graham.

Here’s the real difference in this election: My opponents see disagreement as disloyalty and compromise as weakness. I see both as part of responsible leadership.

I’m a lifelong Scottsdale resident and a proud Coronado High School graduate. I’ve served this community long before seeking elected office, and I’ll continue serving it regardless of political labels. Scottsdale doesn’t belong to developers, political organizations, or any three-person voting bloc. It belongs to its residents.

We deserve a City Council focused on solving problems, protecting neighborhoods, securing our water future, and treating people with respect.

Enough with the fear, division, and political theater. Let’s put Scottsdale first.

By Barry Graham and Michelle Ugenti-Rita

A simple theme has emerged in this City Council election: We choose Scottsdale residents, while Raoul Zubia consistently chooses special interests.

That difference is obvious on the water security issue. The city’s water experts say our supply is secure. We believe it must still be conserved, recycled, banked, and — most importantly — not given away to high-density developers. Zubia chooses fear instead, pushing a discredited water hoax after he lobbied the Council for thousands of apartments.

By Ronald Sampson

Scottsdale has always sold itself as two cities in one. By day, it’s a quiet, well-kept place to raise a family or retire within sight of the McDowells. By night, however, Old Town becomes one of the Southwest’s busiest party districts, complete with bachelorette crawls and valet lines around the block. For years, city leaders have promised that both identities could live side by side. Lately, the evidence suggests that balance has gotten out of whack.

Consider two stories from a single week in October. In one, police say a man opened fire on an apartment building after neighbors refused his cocaine. In the other, a car tied to a street racing investigation smashed through a gate at Scottsdale Airport and into a private jet.

A Cocaine Offer, a Hammer and 10 Rounds

Police say Samuel Sedgwick, 49, walked uninvited into a neighbor’s unit near Miller and Osborn roads on the morning of Oct. 15. According to court documents, he offered cocaine, called the refusal offensive to his culture and began beating a resident. A second occupant then struck him with a hammer to stop the attack. Afterward, police say Sedgwick went home, noticed a chipped tooth and pedaled back on a bicycle with a 9mm handgun. He allegedly fired 10 rounds, and one bullet tore into a neighboring apartment whose resident wasn’t home. Notably, he admitted to officers that prior felonies barred him from owning a gun.

A Chase That Ended on a Runway

Two days later, Phoenix’s Street Racing Taskforce tried to pull over a black Dodge Challenger on SR 51. Instead of stopping, the driver allegedly fled, and a GPS tracker let police follow the car into Scottsdale. At the airport, police say the Challenger rammed a detective’s car, broke through a locked gate and nearly hit several planes. Eventually, it crashed through a hangar door and into an unoccupied jet. Two suspects ran before officers caught them, and the FBI is now investigating the breach.

Photo Credit: KNN News

Where the Balance Broke

Admittedly, neither incident happened on a bar patio. Still, both point to the same problem. Scottsdale has leaned hard into its anything-goes nightlife brand, and that reputation travels well beyond Old Town. It attracts people who treat the city as a playground rather than a home. Meanwhile, residents who chose Scottsdale for its calm absorb the fallout, from bullets in their carports to fleeing drivers on a city runway.

To be fair, credit belongs where it’s due. Scottsdale officers arrested Sedgwick within minutes of the shooting. Yet a fast response is not the same thing as prevention.

Restoring the Equilibrium

Fixing this doesn’t require shutting down Old Town. Rather, it means City Council must treat public safety as the foundation of the brand, not an afterthought. That starts with an honest look at staffing, late-night enforcement and whether nightlife growth has outpaced the city’s ability to police it. Scottsdale can be both a great place to live and a great place to party. When those goals collide, though, residents should win every time.

By Councilman Barry Graham

Whether it hails from Minnesota or Mesa greatness is powerful and worth recognizing.

Watch the ad from Minnesota Secretary of State Candidate Tad Jude here.

By María Hernández

Ed Hermes. Photo Credit: Axios

Phoenix City Council candidate Ed Hermes wants voters to trust his judgment. But recent reporting raises troubling questions about his independence and consistency.

According to Axios, Hermes is a partner at Snell & Wilmer, a law firm with 13 registered city lobbyists and more than 260 clients. His firm represents interests that regularly intersect with city business, including legal disputes involving water policy and data centers.

Hermes says he’ll recuse himself when necessary. But District 4 needs a full-time advocate, not a councilmember who may have to sit out important decisions because of his employer’s business interests.

That is especially concerning as Phoenix confronts serious challenges involving water security, growth, and infrastructure. Residents deserve to know whose interests will come first.

His political record raises additional questions.

The Arizona Republic revealed that Hermes previously supported overturning Roe v. Wade and opposed abortion exceptions for rape and incest. Now he presents himself as a champion of reproductive freedom.

People can evolve, but such a significant reversal deserves more than campaign assurances.

These aren’t minor disagreements. They go directly to whether voters can trust Hermes to put his constituents ahead of professional obligations and political convenience.

District 4 deserves independent, consistent leadership. Before asking for our votes, Ed Hermes needs to provide some straight answers.

News release from Mayor Borowsky’s office

After pushing for months for a comprehensive examination of Scottsdale’s water resources, Mayor Lisa Borowsky says the city now has a clear picture of its water future and must move aggressively to protect it.

On Tuesday, Oct. 20 Scottsdale City Council received an extensive work study examining the city’s current water portfolio, conservation programs, drought planning, and potential new water supplies.

Mayor Borowsky brought forward the idea for the comprehensive water work study and advocated for it for several months leading up to the Oct. 20 presentation. Mayor Borowsky serves on the Board of Directors at the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, which earlier today voted to move forward with a regional messaging campaign focused on educating the public on statewide water conservation opportunities.

Furthermore, Mayor Borowsky is a member of the Coalition for Protecting Arizona’s Lifeline, which is nonpartisan alliance of leaders at the Central Arizona Project focused on educating, advocating, and elevating the importance of long-term water security and economic resilience in our state.

The work study presentation held this past Tuesday at City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., examined projects ranging from additional reclaimed and advanced purified water infrastructure to the Harquahala Valley and Bartlett Dam expansion.

“This was about getting everything on the table and having an honest, comprehensive discussion about where Scottsdale stands today and what we need to do to secure our water future,” Mayor Lisa Borowsky said. “We cannot wait for the next shortage declaration or crisis to start thinking about conservation and new supplies. We need to get ahead of the problem.”

The discussion comes as Scottsdale remains heavily reliant on Colorado River water. The city has rights to 81,271 acre-feet through the Central Arizona Project, while the presentation outlined a potential 2027 CAP supply of 67,455 acre-feet, representing a 17% reduction from the city’s allocation.

For Ms. Borowsky, the Oct. 20 presentation was not intended to be the end of the conversation. She is calling for the city to examine additional conservation measures, including:

• At the request of Mayor Borowsky — and supported by her City Council colleagues — the City Attorney’s Office is developing a large-water-user ordinance designed to address significant water consumption and encourage greater efficiency for new development projects.
• Expansion of smart-water-meter technology to help identify opportunities to reduce water waste, including unnecessary irrigation during periods of rain.
• Exploration of hot-water recirculation systems to reduce potable water wasted while residents wait for hot water to reach faucets and showers.
• Updating Scottsdale’s rainwater harvesting ordinance to encourage greater capture and productive use of rainfall.

Those proposals would complement conservation initiatives already under way, Mayor Borowsky contends pointing out Scottsdale reported that its WaterSmart portal provides customers with hourly-use information, personalized data, and leak alerts. Numbers show leak-detection efforts prevented 35 million gallons in losses in 2025 and resulted in 6,271 leak alerts to customers.

The city also approved 346 conservation rebates totaling $628,233 in fiscal year 2025-26, including programs for grass removal, irrigation controllers, smart-home water-monitoring devices and commercial water-management technology.Read More

By Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas

Amish Shah is a slight favorite to win Arizona’s 1st Congressional District on Nov. 3, with analysts saying Democrats hold the edge. If he does, Republicans will start hunting for a 2028 challenger almost immediately.

Amish Shah. Photo Credit: Arizona Republic

Nobody has declared anything. Still, Jay Feely’s primary win and a deep bench of local officeholders make for an interesting shortlist. As far as public reporting shows, most of these names have not been floated.

The Rematch Option

Jay Feely. The former NFL kicker is the Trump-endorsed 2026 nominee and won his primary with about half the vote. He has name recognition and money. A close loss could invite a rematch, though 2028 turnout will look different.

The Scottsdale Bench

Lisa Borowsky. The Republican-affiliated mayor beat David Ortega with 54% in 2024 and has a citywide win to her name. However, her seat is also on the 2028 ballot, so she would have to choose.

Jan Dubauskas. The at-large councilwoman is an attorney and former insurance executive who ran for state senate in 2022. Her council seat is also up in 2028.

Adam Kwasman. The councilman is a former state representative who ran for this seat’s predecessor in 2014. He finished third. He faces the same 2028 timing problem.

Christian Serena. The Scottsdale native and wealth advisor became a household name as the lone Planning Commission vote against Axon’s mega-apartment complex plans. He stood on principle and drew the company’s fire for it. Residents have not forgotten, and that goodwill could be political currency. 

Phoenix and County Hall

Jim Waring. The Phoenix councilman has represented northeast Phoenix, part of CD1, since 2011. He is a former state senator who lost a 2010 congressional primary.

Tom Galvin. The county supervisor chaired the board in 2025. He said last fall he is not interested in Congress. Politicians change their minds, though, and his seat is also up in 2028.

Matt Gress. The state representative and former Ducey budget director has survived a swing district. He did face July questions about out-of-state lobbying work, which he says is a non-issue.

The Statehouse Set

Alexander Kolodin. The Scottsdale-area state representative is the GOP nominee for secretary of state. If that bid falls short in November, he becomes a free agent.

Joseph Chaplik. The former Scottsdale state representative and Freedom Caucus member finished second in the primary with 35.7%. He already has a base.

Gina Swoboda. The former state party chair first announced for this seat before switching to secretary of state. She lost that primary to Kolodin but remains a Trump favorite.

Veterans and Wildcards

David Schweikert. The longtime congressman lost the governor’s primary badly and is not seeking re-election. Name ID is his, but a comeback looks unlikely.

John Trobough. The outlier. The former tech CEO took 14.5% in his first race and pledged at least $1 million of his own money. Every cycle seems to produce a wealthy outsider, and 2028 will likely deliver another.

The seat is sure to stay a top target. After Nov. 3, watch who starts showing up at Scottsdale events.

By Councilwoman Solange Whitehead

Scottsdale Councilmembers Barry Graham and Jan Dubauskas’ comments at this week’s Council meeting on water made one thing clear: they either do not understand – or they do not want the public to understand – the truth about Scottsdale’s water challenges.  

After nearly two years of their blocking public meetings on water, we finally held a water work-study session. What should have been an honest discussion about preparing for reduced Colorado River supplies became something else entirely.

Graham, Dubauskas and the City’s interim water director made some bold, inaccurate statements about “Scottsdale water abundance”. Let’s look at the facts.

The Colorado River is overallocated.  That means, cities like Scottsdale have legal entitlements to water quantities that the river can no longer supply.  

Scottsdale is over-reliant on the Central Arizona Project delivered Colorado River water. It’s seventy-one percent of our water.

 Scottsdale has no secret, unlimited stash of extra water underground.

Steeper cuts to our supply of CAP water are coming.  Scottsdale’s job is to conservatively prepare for the worst-case scenario, while working diligently to deliver the best. But this Council majority has us going in the opposite direction:

• Water use is rising.
• Water fund balances have sharply declined from $222 million to a projected $80 million.
• An unprecedented number of water technical, policy, and operations staff have left.
• Ratepayers are funding one-time groundwater purchases while Advanced Water Purification (AWP), a renewable, cost-effective water source, remains defunded.

Now let’s unpack their bold claims; claims that do not “hold water”:

Scottsdale has and will continue to have a 141,000 acre feet (AF) annual water supply.

This is not true.  Scottsdale’s previous 100-year Designation of Assured Water Supply (DAWS) which ended December 2025 was based on the likelihood that Scottsdale would have access to this amount of water during normal times.

These are not normal times.  Today’s drought is not speculation.  The river’s hydrology, not legal water entitlements or past DAWS, dictate our access to water.  

Scottsdale has a 50,000+ AF annual water surplus? No!

Scottsdale has approximately 280,000 AF of water stored in its aquifer today. It took years to build that reserve and it represents about four years of water at current usage.

And there will be no future CAP surplus to replace water extracted. This is not a renewable water source, it’s an emergency “piggy bank”.

Scottsdale’s Advanced Water Purification (AWP) will cost $6,900–$8,400 per acre-foot. Really?

That figure is so far above estimates for comparable projects that it appears to be a political talking point instead of a fact-based estimate.

Advanced Water Purification (AWP) has long been recognized as the cost-effective, renewable water source. Scottsdale’s Water Campus has been treating recycled wastewater to drinking-water quality for years. New ADEQ requirements call for additional investments to allow purified water to be blended directly into our drinking water supply—but Scottsdale is not starting from scratch.

New treatment facilities being built from the ground up are estimating costs of roughly $1,000–$2,500 per acre-foot. Given our infrastructure, costs should be substantially lower.

Scottsdale is in a strong position today because decades of past elected Scottsdale leaders adopted sound water policy and made necessary investments. Our adopted Water Strategic Plan charts a path to a diverse water portfolio that keeps water safe, secure, and affordable.

Yet this Council majority continues to override that plan—at residents’ expense.

Our generation must protect the Colorado River and our own water future. It won’t be free or easy, but we can achieve both. Scottsdale water is too important to sacrifice for political agendas. We need a City Council that will put science, sound policy, and our residents first.

By Former SRP Executive Tony Moya

I spent decades at SRP working alongside colleagues to deliver water and power to the people of Arizona. The lesson from that work is simple: you plan for shortages before they arrive.

Scottsdale is now bracing for a 17% cut to its Colorado River supply as soon as January. City officials say residents won’t feel it right away because the city isn’t using its full allocation. 

I hope that holds. But the same reporting says new supply could cost anywhere from a few million to hundreds of millions of dollars, and one councilmember admits rates may rise.

Scottsdale gets about 70% of its water from the Colorado River, more than any other city its size or larger in Arizona or California. Yet the council, thanks to Barry Graham, passed a budget that left out $233 million for water projects, including recycling. 

Nothing is budgeted for advanced water purification; a program Scottsdale ran for more than 20 years. Councilman Graham, do you have any idea what doing nothing will cost?

Now Graham and Michelle Ugenti-Rita are citing remarks from Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas and the city manager as proof they’ve been right all along. That’s hardly confirmation. A city manager reporting to a council on an agenda the council set is staff reporting back to its bosses, not an independent verdict.

Graham and Ugenti-Rita owe voters honesty about the choices they made.

That’s why I’m supporting Raoul Zubia. He has made water his focus, and he listens to the people who study it. Experts have warned Arizona for years about what’s coming.

Scottsdale needs leaders who will put real money behind new supply, conservation, and recycling now, while there is still time and choice.

Voters must choose Raoul Zubia.

Heroes & Hops to feature a firefighter-brewed beer, food specials and fundraising for Scottsdale Firefighter Charities

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) Scottsdale firefighters are trying their hand at something a little different. Brewing beer.

Members of Scottsdale Firefighters Local 5050 have teamed up with Fate Brewing to create a special beer that will make its debut Sunday, Nov. 8, at Heroes & Hops, a community event and fundraiser at Fate Brewing, 1312 N. Scottsdale Road, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The firefighters worked alongside Fate’s brewers to create the beer, with $1 from every pint sold benefiting Scottsdale Firefighter Charities.

The event, hosted by Local 5050, will feature food specials, fire truck photo opportunities and plenty of opportunities to spend time with Scottsdale firefighters outside the fire station. Pipes & Drums will open the festivities.

Scottsdale Firefighters Association President Sasha Weller said the event is another way for firefighters to connect with the community they serve.

“We spend a lot of time responding to calls and helping people when they need us most. This is a chance to get together under much better circumstances,” said Weller. “We appreciate Fate Brewing working with our firefighters to create something special. We hope people will come out, have some fun and help us raise money for a good cause.”

The event comes just weeks after Scottsdale Firefighter Charities raised a record $100,000-plus at its 27th annual Behind the Flames dinner, held Sept. 27 at Mastro’s City Hall. The money supports firefighters and their families as well as organizations helping Scottsdale youth, seniors and others in need. The dinner also honored Firefighter of the Year Rey Igliane and four community members with C.A.R.E. Awards.

Heroes & Hops continues that charitable effort, although in a decidedly more casual setting.

And you don’t have to be a firefighter or even a beer drinker to attend. The event is open to everyone, including families with children. Stop by for lunch, meet some of Scottsdale’s firefighters, enjoy the afternoon and support a good cause. For more information on Scottsdale Fire Fighters Charities, go to their Facebook Page. 

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From Michelle Ugenti-Rita’s Facebook account

By Steve Tyrrell

A recent TV ad paid for by a super PAC in support of Jay Feely intentionally distorts Amish Shah’s record on sex offenders and public safety.  Feely’s campaign is desperate and cares not about the truth but I do:

So here are the facts:

Dr. Amish Shah is an emergency room physician and former team physician for the NFL’s New York Jets.  He knows a thing or two about healthcare.

Dr. Amish Shah did not vote to let convicted child molesters back into our schools.  Never happened! 

Dr Shah was and is a staunch supporter of Kayleigh’s Law which made it a class 1 misdemeanor for a convicted abuser to contact their victims.

Dr. Shah is a public safety champion who is now endorsed by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Law Enforcement Association and the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Arizona. Both associations know his record of support for law enforcement, his ability to work across the aisle to get things done and have stated so publicly.

Dr Shah supported pro-law enforcement bills, including measures to lower the threshold for a felony fentanyl trafficking charge.

Dr Shah supported salary increases for Arizona Department of Public Safety officers and voted for State Budgets that included more than $200 million for border security, specialized law enforcement operations, drug task forces and local police grants.    

Dr. Shah clearly supported a 2019 law that extended the statute of limitations for child sexual assault survivors to file civil suits against their abusers as well as any institutions that enabled such abuse, including schools.

My vote goes to Amish Shah because he has earned it and encourage other independent -minded voters to do the same. 

Steve Tyrrell, Scottsdale Voter

By John Ainley

By Dan Bastian

Christian Serena’s recent opinion piece urged voters to back Barry Graham and Michelle Ugenti-Rita. It was presented as the view of a former planning commissioner and concerned resident. While he is entitled to his opinion, Mr. Serena did not mention that he is chair of Barry Graham’s campaign. That is not a minor omission. A campaign chair supporting his own candidate is making a campaign case, and the label should say so lest readers believe it is an objective opinion. This paper should adopt a standing policy requiring disclosure of opinion piece authors when writing about their own candidates.

As for his actual commentary, Mr. Serena scrutinizes who funds his candidate’s opponent, urging readers to “follow the money” and weigh who stands to benefit. By that standard, readers deserve to know that the author, himself, has a direct stake in the outcome. He also fails to disclose the developers and business owners supporting his own candidate. This is important given Mr. Graham’s promises not to accept money from developers and because it creates a potential conflict of interest in future Council matters, conflicts that apparently Mr. Serena believes are only a concern for the opposition. Further, Mr. Graham’s being found guilty of ethics violations, the ongoing investigation by the State Attorney General into potential violations of Open Meeting Laws (as recently reported in the media), open complaints about his campaign finance reporting, his misuse of police and County Attorney resources against residents and Mayor Borowsky, and his incessant falsehoods are far more important for voters to consider.

I certainly will not be voting for Barry Graham (or Michelle Ugenti Rita) because character matters.

Dan Ishac
Resident and Former Council Candidate

By Joe Romack