Guest Editorial: Zubia Stays Silent as Outside Interests Try to Rescue His Campaign

With Election Day just days away, an unprecedented last-minute surge of outside special interests is rushing to prop up Raoul Zubia.

Why? They know Zubia is their guy. He’s lobbied for thousands of high-density apartments, pushed for tax hikes and ideological bureaucracies, and taken money from the Bar District, the short-term rental lobby, and Axon’s apartment developers. He’s also promoted by the Phoenix Metro Democratic Socialists.

This week, the Virginia dark money group “American Potential” began running ads estimated at $50,000 or more. Voters will never know who actually funded them, while Zubia says nothing.

Yesterday, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego also inserted herself into Scottsdale’s election to help Zubia. Under her watch, homelessness, crime, toxic overdevelopment, water mismanagement, and tax hikes have skyrocketed, while she’s expected to vote to replace a golf course at Phoenix Kierland with 500 apartments. As Gallego tries to extend her influence in Scottsdale, Zubia says nothing.

There’s a pattern: Outside special interests fund or push Zubia, who never says anything.

He refused to stand up to Axon’s developers, endorsed their massive apartment development, took their cash, and blamed residents for canceling the referendum. Just like when he said nothing after Attorney General Kris Mayes undermined Scottsdale’s golf course economy.

Zubia’s silence isn’t new. Earlier, $335,000 was funneled through a Virginia super PAC linked to Axon to boost Zubia and defeat Michelle Ugenti-Rita and me. He also enjoys support from the statewide Realtors mega-PAC that leads the effort against short-term rental reforms.

Scottsdale is not for sale to outside interests — and residents should take notice of Zubia’s silence and of special interests’ attempts to buy a seat on our City Council.