Op-Ed: Scottsdale Isn’t Just a City to Raoul Zubia

By Don Henninger

When Raoul Zubia talks about Scottsdale, you can tell right away that this isn’t just a city to him. It’s home.

Raoul was born and raised in Scottsdale, and he has seen it change and grow over the years. He knows what makes the city special because he has lived it. He knows the neighborhoods, the people, the traditions, and the institutions that make Scottsdale what it is.

That personal connection is a big part of why Raoul has given so much of his time to serving the city.

He’s always been interested in public service and the value of being involved. He has served on the Human Services Commission, the Protect and Preserve Scottsdale Task Force, Partners for Paiute, education organizations, and lots of other community efforts.

That says a lot about who Raoul is. He believes that being part of a community means showing up, getting involved and pitching in.

You can count on Raoul. If he says he’s going to do something, he follows through. He listens to people, even when the conversation is difficult, and he genuinely wants to understand different points of view.

Scottsdale has important decisions ahead. Growth, water, infrastructure, public safety and preserving the character of our neighborhoods are complicated issues. They aren’t going to be solved with political slogans or easy answers. They will be solved by leaders who have a track record of serving the city, willing to do the hard work to make good things happen.

That is Raoul. He is steady, hardworking, thoughtful, and genuinely committed to Scottsdale. Most importantly, he cares about this community because it has always been home.

And that’s why I trust him to help lead Scottsdale into the future.

Don Henninger of Scottsdale is co-director of the Arizona Democracy Resilience Network.