Guest Editorial: The Truth Is…

By Raoul Zubia

You deserve better.

Too many residents feel like Scottsdale City Hall is no longer listening to them. Restoring trust starts with electing adults in the room who understand the importance of long-term planning, transparency, and respect for constituents.

Scottsdale is one of the best cities in America to live, work, and raise a family. But the jewel of Arizona is currently in the news for all the wrong reasons. As a lifelong Scottsdale resident, I take this personally.

I’ve spent years attending council meetings, listening to residents, and paying attention to where our city is succeeding and where it’s falling short. Scottsdale doesn’t need a political circus. It needs steady leadership, responsible decision-making, and a renewed focus on the people who live here.

That’s the kind of leadership I’ll bring to City Council. With just a few days left until ballots drop, I want to share with you why you shouldn’t just vote for me as one of your three options this July, but why voting for me will help restore some decorum and forethought to City Hall and, by extension, will give you the leadership you deserve.

I’m running for City Council because I believe we’ve lost focus on the issues that matter most to residents. Instead of political fights and headline-driven decisions, Scottsdale needs leadership focused on the basics: public safety, water security, responsible budgeting, and protecting the quality of life that made people want to live here in the first place.

My professional background is in banking and finance, and I believe that experience matters. Managing a city budget requires discipline, long-term thinking, and accountability. Taxpayers are entitled to leaders who understand how to balance priorities without wasting money or kicking major problems down the road.

Water is one of those issues we can’t afford to punt on. Protecting our water future should be one of the city’s top priorities. I strongly support expanding advanced water purification and recycled water projects so Scottsdale becomes less dependent on the Colorado River over time. Cutting or delaying major water investments may help balance a budget in the short term, but it creates bigger problems for the next generation. People I grew up with in Scottsdale thrived because the generations before us planned ahead; they were thinking years down the road for the sake of their children and grandchildren. That’s what we need now.

I also believe Scottsdale can continue to grow economically without losing its identity. Companies like Axon bring jobs and opportunities to the city, and that’s important. At the same time, residents deserve to have a voice in major decisions that affect their neighborhoods and their future. As a staunch advocate for local control, I was frustrated when the city took away the public’s ability to provide input, which opened the door for one-size-fits-all policymaking from the state legislature. We should never treat public input as an obstacle.

Furthermore, instead of taking potshots at a job creator, like Axon, our leaders should be looking for solutions when there is friction with large companies that are trying to invest in our city. Councilmembers who have spent months ranting about this issue to try to make headlines have done so at taxpayers’ expense and to our collective detriment, as other important issues have fallen by the wayside. I believe we can have local control, community input, and company investment right here in our city; it doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. Most importantly, we can have responsible development.

That’s one reason I’ve opposed the proposed Old Town parking garage. Spending tens of millions of dollars on a project backed by outdated parking studies doesn’t make sense, especially when construction could hurt local businesses and change the character of Old Town. We should be looking at flexible, practical solutions instead of rushing into expensive projects that may not solve tomorrow’s needs and seem to only benefit special interests.

The same approach applies to development across Scottsdale, especially in North Scottsdale. Growth is inevitable, but unchecked growth without infrastructure planning creates problems for the people already living here: more traffic, greater water demand, and more strain on city services. Every project should be evaluated based on whether our infrastructure can support it and whether it actually improves Scottsdale for current residents. If those two boxes aren’t checked, the project isn’t worth it.

Improving our community is paramount. Public service was ingrained in me as a child, and it’s why I have always tried to give back to our city. I have had the honor of leading as the chair of the Human Services Commission, vice chair of the Protect and Preserve Scottsdale Task Force, and president of Partners for Paiute. I also serve on the EVIT Foundation, the Charro Foundation, the SUSD Foundation, and the Parada del Sol Committee, where I lend my voice each year as an announcer. In 2021, I was honored to receive Scottsdale Leadership’s Hodges Award and to be inducted into the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame in 2024. Each of these roles has strengthened my belief in what makes Scottsdale everlasting: strong neighborhoods, safe communities, and a commitment to working together for the common good.

I’m proudly endorsed by bipartisan leaders from our city and across the state. That support includes leaders in law enforcement, current and former City Council members, former mayors and county assessors, and former advisors to governors and U.S. senators, along with organizations like the Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS. And, most importantly, because of my commitment to protecting the nature preserve, I have the full support of my two dogs, Jett and Moose.

Look, I care deeply about this city and the generations of leadership and community spirit that made it what it is today. That’s why I’m in this fight offering steady, responsible, nonpartisan leadership.

The truth is, you deserve better than what you’re getting. So vote for better this July. Vote for Raoul Zubia. For more information, please visit zubiaforscottsdale.com

Raoul Zubia is a lifelong South Scottsdale resident, Coronado High School graduate, and community leader running for Scottsdale City Council to protect neighborhoods, secure Scottsdale’s water, manage growth responsibly, and preserve the character of Scottsdale for future generations.