In the name of helping our readers make more informed decisions and better understand the people who want to lead our city, we sent out questionnaires to all Scottsdale City Council candidates. All of the questions were the same for each except for two questions that were customized for each candidate. Here are their submissions.
Do you support the Axon development as originally proposed, including up to 1,900 residential units, or the compromise proposal of around 600 units. If not, what conditions would you require before lending your support?
The state legislature and governor have decided, with bipartisan support, that Axon is a valuable employer they wish to retain in our state. If the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court find fault with the law, our state legislature will revise it to correct the identified errors.
In your opinion has the amount of apartment approvals and construction in recent years has been too little, too much or just about right?
I support limiting development to what is in the General Plan approved by voters in 2021, nothing more. While there are several multifamily projects in the pipeline, they were approved by Council years ago, and the market will determine which of them will be built. Scottsdale grew by less than 1,000 residents last year, 0.4%. I would expect this slow rate of growth to continue.
In your view, is development in Scottsdale currently proceeding at the right pace, too quickly, or too slowly, and what principles would guide your votes on major development proposals?
Please see my answer to the prior question. Scottsdale is, and should remain, a desirable place to work, visit, and live. The city should welcome good, smart development that balances the desire to preserve our Western heritage with the need to evolve and thus remain a vibrant, relevant community.
The Colorado River faces a deepening crisis, with Lake Powell at historically low levels. What specific policies should Scottsdale pursue to protect its long-term water security?
Scottsdale has long prepared for the day when water would become less accessible. Decades of planning and investment have put our city in a good position. We use half as much water per person now than we did at the city’s founding 75 years ago.
We need to reaffirm our commitment to the Scottsdale Water Strategic Plan 2025-2030 and aggressively move forward on the capital investments outlined in that plan. These include implementing automated meter infrastructure, improving our groundwater well recovery and SRP pumping capabilities, introducing Advanced Purified Recycled Water into direct potable use, and participating in regional projects, such as the Barlett Dam discussion and additional APRW facilities.
What is your position on the boundaries of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and under what circumstances, if any, would you support changes to land currently designated as preserve?
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is a precious asset of the city, and Scottsdale residents have reminded us of that time and time again. Prop 400, the original sales tax measure that funded land purchases to establish the Preserve, has been extended to 2045 and continues to generate funds for land purchase and certain maintenance activities. To the extent we can use those funds to complete the original vision for the Preserve, we should do so. But I would not support a reduction in Preserve acreage, nor a change in its use. Going forward, the Preserve will benefit from additional investments in maintenance and safety, funded through the sales tax established by Prop 490, passed by Scottsdale voters in 2024.
How would you approach funding police and fire services, and are there areas of the current public safety budget you would change?
Scottsdale residents have long expressed their strong support for competitive pay, benefits, and working conditions for our police and fire services, and the city is blessed with a revenue base that enables this. The recent commitment of the city to maintain police and fire pay and benefits among the top three in the Valley is a significant step in that direction. I support the city’s commitment.
Old Town is always a centerpiece of the conversation regarding Scottsdale. What (if anything) would you do to improve it?
Old Town/Downtown is an incredible success story, written several times over. Branded “The West’s Most Western Town” in the 1940’s, the city was already becoming a center for arts and culture and a tourist destination. Efforts in the early 2000’s to craft the area as a mixed-use destination, encouraging restaurants, bars and other entertainment offerings to locate there, may have been too successful. More recent efforts, such as the adoption and subsequent revision of a character area plan for Old Town, have attempted to strike a balance between the economic benefits these entertainment offerings represent with the desires of residents to maintain ties to the original arts and western heritage of the city. We need to continue to invest in our Old Town, partnering with the merchants and residents to identify revitalization opportunities, funding the expansion of arts and cultural amenities, and encouraging modest redevelopment to maintain and enhance Old Town as the heart of Scottsdale.
Scottsdale faces competing demands on its budget. What are your priorities for city spending, and are there areas where you would cut or redirect resources?
All cities must balance competing budget demands. There are not infinite sources of funds, but Scottsdale is better positioned than most. Supporting public safety will remain the top priority for the city, but investment in other city services, most notably water, are rising in importance.
What is your approach to addressing homelessness in Scottsdale, and what role should the city play in expanding access to affordable housing?
The best way to address homelessness is to prevent it from happening. The city has several programs that do just that, offering rent and utility assistance, a food bank, and a case management team to help residents navigate the many nonprofit resources available. For residents that become unhoused, getting them rehoused and stabilized quickly is key. The longer a person is unhoused, the more likely they will become a victim of criminal activity, their physical, mental and emotional health will decline, and some will turn to drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms. Scottsdale partners with several excellent nonprofit organizations working to rehouse individuals and families. I want to call out the amazing work Family Promise does for families, here in Scottsdale and across the Valley.
You have listed limiting development as a key priority, yet you also want to attract quality employers and maintain fiscal health. How do you reconcile those goals when major development proposals often come bundled with significant economic benefits for the city?
Our decision-making needs to remain consistent with the guidelines set forth in the voter-approved General Plan. The General Plan anticipates and encourages thoughtful, balanced growth over the next decade. Part of what makes Scottsdale attractive for new employers is the quality of life our community provides its executives and employees. Scottsdale will remain “open for business” by working with potential new employers on development opportunities, but also by adequately funding our police and fire services, securing water sustainability for our community, supporting arts and cultural institutions, and maintaining our beautiful parks and Preserve.
As president of the DC Ranch Community Council, you have experience representing the interests of an established north Scottsdale neighborhood. How would you ensure that south Scottsdale residents, who often feel underrepresented at the council level, receive equal attention and investment?
Scottsdale is a unique city comprised of many varied neighborhoods. North, South and Central Scottsdale may look different, and they offer different amenities, but we are one community. Operating budget and capital investment decisions must be made to balance the needs of these neighborhoods. My nonprofit work has taken me far beyond DC Ranch, and I have made it a priority in my campaign to meet and talk to people from across our city. That won’t change once I’m elected. Serving all our city’s residents while on Council will be my sole focus: I will have no other employment or distraction. To serve this city and all its residents will be a great honor. I look forward to it.