By Ronald Sampson
Photo Credit: Arizona PBS
Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky is facing a sudden and unusually sharp backlash after sources say she was booed at a meeting of the Palo Verde Republican Women; a group that once represented a reliable pocket of support. The reaction followed her vote in favor of a “compromise” agreement with Axon, clearing the way for a sprawling apartment development. For a mayor who campaigned on balanced growth and defending Scottsdale’s unique character, the blowback is more than just symbolic; it’s a warning shot.
And unlike some might hope, Scottsdale’s history suggests these early warning shots often echo for a long time.
When former Mayor David Ortega stumbled early in his term, particularly over development decisions that alienated activists and Republican clubs, the damage lingered. His relationship with grassroots organizations never fully recovered. Mary Manross, despite her professionalism and moderate tone, struggled for years to rebuild support after a general sense of waywardness; those struggles contributed to her eventual defeat. Even Sam Campana faced persistent criticism over development-related controversies that dogged her throughout her tenure and weakened her politically.
In Scottsdale, early missteps don’t always fade. They often define.
Borowsky now risks entering that same pattern. The Axon vote wasn’t just another zoning item; to many residents, it symbolized the broader, long-standing tension between preserving Scottsdale’s suburban identity and accommodating big corporate actors. And for some on the right, any suggestion of compromise, particularly with a powerful company, feels like capitulation rather than leadership.
The reaction from the Palo Verde Republican Women matters precisely because it comes from inside her own coalition. Moments like these can calcify quickly, especially if they feed into preexisting suspicions about a leader’s priorities.
To recover, Borowsky would need more than a few clarifications or town halls. She would need to demonstrate, consistently and strategically, that she is still aligned with the voters who put her into office. And even then, as Scottsdale’s recent mayoral history makes clear, rebuilding trust once lost is far from guaranteed.
The boos may have lasted only a moment. But the political consequences could linger much longer.