By Linda Milhaven
Hi, Friends!
If you are as embarrassed as I am with the chaos, infighting, deaf ears and poor decision making of the current City Council then we need to be sure that none of these candidates get elected. They promise more of the same, and if it’s possible, maybe something worse.
Here is how I see them.
(I apologize for the length of this email, but they just give me so much fodder that I am challenged to keep it short.)
Barry Graham
In over 30 years of watching and participating in City politics, Barry Graham is the most corrupt and/or incompetent Councilmember I have ever observed.
Despite his claims to the contrary, he wasted taxpayer dollars, turns a deaf ear to resident concerns, makes it difficult for residents to provide input, and makes decisions that compromise our safety and security. Here are some details.
- Wasted money and compromised our safety by forfeiting $31million in federal grants to change the Scottsdale Rd and Dynamite intersection from a roundabout to a signalized intersection, all while making the intersection less safe. Graham claims he swapped the federal grant for a regional grant, which is true, but he fails to acknowledge that other road projects that would have been funded by regional grants were either cancelled or delayed (which increased their costs). Additionally, the changes increased total costs by $6million. Yes, it was in the budget because they used contingency funds. It still cost us more to make the change.
- Gambles with our water security by defunding hundreds of millions of dollars in water infrastructure improvements that were planned to fill the gaps created by cuts in our Colorado River allocation.
- Approved water rates that do not keep up with increasing operating costs using reserves to keep water rates artificially low. In future, we will be paying more to play catchup.
- Wasted $20million ($30million with interest) on a parking garage in historic old town, across from the Old Mission church, despite the fact that every parking study says there is adequate parking in this area, and while ignoring the pleas of thousands of residents concerned the garage will destroy the character of Old Town and who requested a new parking study to inform the decision whether or not to build the garage.
- Created obstacles for residents to provide input at City Council meetings by putting public comment at the end of meetings and censoring residents by interrupting them with “points of order”. He doesn’t want to hear from folks who disagree with him.
- Refused to schedule a vote on the Axon project motivating the state to usurp the city’s authority over the project and nullify all previous agreements, including the requirement to bring water to the project. Then, he blames others for denying the vote and eroding the deal.
- Threatened our public safety by voting no for a fire training academy. If he had been successful stopping the training facility, it would have led to a firefighter shortage and compromised our safety.
- Found guilty of an ethics violation.
- Collaborated with Councilmembers Dubaskas and Kwasman to file a false felony complaint against the Mayor with the County Attorney.
I could go on but I think that should be enough. We need Barry Graham to go away.
Bob Littlefield
Twenty-four years of Littlefields should be enough. After Bob served 12 years on City Council, Kathy, his wife, served another 12 years or, should I say, Kathy served as Bob’s proxy on City Council.
Kathy is a lovely woman and, I believe, wants to do the right thing, but few people believe that she is her own woman. Bob tells her what to do and how to vote.
Her speeches and motions at City Council meetings are written out ahead of time. During briefings before Council meetings, she will agree to support an item and then come back and change her mind. When she got home, Bob “set her straight” on the issue and changed her mind. It is commonly known that Bob answers Kathy’s emails.
Bob is using out-of-state dark money to sue the city over the Axon referendum. The city is wasting taxpayer money defending itself against his groundless claim.
Bob previously lost his bid for a seat in the state legislature and his run for Mayor.
He is a one issue candidate who believes that if we stop all development and don’t build anything else that all of our problems are solved.
During his time on Council, he voted no rather than work to try to make projects better. He’d rather be against something than for something. He is constantly looking for the bogey man that he can save us from him.
Bob is more interested in being relevant than he is in keeping Scottsdale special.
God save us from Bob Littlefield. Enough is enough.
Michelle Ugenti-Rita
Michelle is running for City Council after her service in the state legislature, a failed run for Secretary of State and a failed run for County Supervisor.
Michelle brings a lot of baggage with her but . . .
. . . all we really need to do is understand her hyperbolic politicization of our water policy and listen to a recent discussion she participated in on KTAR about water. She spews misinformation, raises her voice, talks over others and distracts from discussing solutions.
Here is a link to the discussion.
Judge for yourself if you think she is fit to work for you in cooperation with others to find solutions to protect Scottsdale. I don’t think she is.
Eric Sloan
Eric is a newcomer to the Scottsdale political scene. Previously, he failed in a run for the Corporation Commission and was fired from the state Department of Gaming for inappropriate workplace conduct.
His friend, sitting Councilmember Adam Kwasman, urged him to run. That’s enough for me. Adam is one of the architects of the chaos, infighting and sabotage that is going on with City Council. Electing Eric promises more of the same. NO, THANK YOU!
The upcoming primary is our chance to change things and restore civility and common sense to City Council.
Early voting begins and early ballots will be mailed on Wednesday, the 24th.
In the last three elections, Councilmembers were elected outright in the primary, so your vote in the primary matters.
Independent voters represent approximately a third of the registered voters in Scottsdale. Independents make a difference.
Independents can vote in person or request a mail ballot. Get more details on voting HERE.
Thanks for listening.
Linda Milhaven
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