By Carol Burns Michelle Ugenti-Rita is running for Scottsdale City Council, which makes this a good time to revisit her stance on local control. As a state representative, Ugenti sponsored legislation forcing municipalities to consolidate their local elections with state and federal election dates. Cities and towns strongly objected, arguing that the mandate diminished local control and risked burying municipal … Read More
Op-Ed: Why do Zubia’s Allies Avoid the Issues?
By Ignacio del Valle, Scottsdale resident The opinion pages have been busy this election — and the pattern is impossible to ignore. Residents who support Barry Graham and Michelle Ugenti-Rita — or the many who have doubts about Raoul Zubia — are focusing on the issues: the connection between high-density apartments and water security, short-term rentals, neighborhood safety, the Bar … Read More
Op-Ed: Barry Graham Endorses Election Deniers. Nobody Has Held Him Accountable
By John Ainley Harry Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol police officer who was beaten by January 6th insurrectionists, will be in Maricopa County later this week. This reminded me of Barry Graham’s endorsement of Alexander Kolodin for Arizona Secretary of State. Kolodin was directly involved in efforts challenging Arizona’s 2020 election results. He served as local counsel in Sidney Powell’s … Read More
Op-Ed: Raoul Zubia is Mainstream and Has the Moral High Ground
By Jim Derouin Jerome Garcia’s recent post makes several claims about Raoul Zubia that are preposterous and simply not true. Most glaring is the assertion that Raoul’s support comes “exclusively from Democrats and socialist factions.” That is pure poppy cock. Raoul’s publicly listed endorsers include Deb Gullett, a former Republican state representative, and Wes Gullett, a longtime Republican operative who … Read More
Letter to the Editor- Questioning Civility
To the Editor, I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding Raoul Zubia’s candidacy for the Scottsdale City Council. While his campaign materials claim a desire to return to “commonsense” and restore civility, his actual conduct on the campaign trail reveals a glaring double standard that is anything but unifying. Mr. Zubia claims he will restore decorum to the … Read More
Op-Ed: In Support of Raoul Zubia
By Cynthia Wenström Scottsdale is fortunate to have scenic beauty, safe neighborhoods and amenities that contribute to an enviable quality of life. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt, generously equipped libraries and senior centers, are community assets worth protecting and maintaining. The continuing question is how Scottsdale can sustain that quality of life while addressing the challenges ahead. … Read More
Janik Endorses Johnson for SUSD School Board
By Betty Janik Former Scottsdale Councilwoman Great schools don’t just educate our children—they help build great cities. In Scottsdale, the strength and reputation of our schools are an important part of what makes our city such a desirable place to live. Keeping our schools highly rated and competitive helps attract families and businesses, strengthens our neighborhoods, and supports the property … Read More
Which City Council candidate will best protect the Preserve?
By Jason Alexander Raoul Zubia has the strongest track record of supporting the Preserve. Raoul Zubia was Vice Chair of the Protect & Preserve Task Force that helped write Prop 490 two years ago, and guaranteed future funding and maintenance for our parks and Preserve. Zubia also supported Prop 420 in 2018, which put the proposed Desert Discovery Center to … Read More
Op-Ed: South Scottsdale Deserves Better Than Raoul Zubia
By C. McCracken Raoul Zubia bills himself as the City Council candidate of, by, and for South Scottsdale. As a long time S. Scottsdale resident, my wife and I like to support candidates who live here, so we look past the campaign rhetoric to see where they actually stand. What we are discovering is VERY concerning! S. Scottsdale has borne … Read More