It’s always good to invoke Star Trek, especially when it comes to Bob Littlefield. Because his campaign for Scottsdale Mayor seems to be from outer space. And his campaign, in the unlikely event it is successful, would boldly take he and wife where no man has gone before: a husband and wife team on the Scottsdale City Council.
We’re sure, no positive, absolutely certain that the Arizona Attorney General would NEVER, ever, never ever, come knocking at Scottsdale’s door because of open meeting laws violations.
But that’s not why we opine now. It’s to reveal the game Bob Littlefield plays with south Scottsdale, and how he preys on their disenfranchisement only to stab them in the back to serve himself.
Take for example his ambulance chasing opposition to Entrada, the most important project proposed in south Scottsdale in years. It would transform the ghost town of car dealerships on the northeast corner of 64th Street and McDowell into a terrific new gateway for the area with mixed-use development. It’s the private sector finally responding, without government subsidy, to what many of us have been saying all along. South Scottsdale is a hidden jewel and the next neighborhoods in the Valley to go through a revitalizing “it” moment. But that doesn’t serve Bob’s purpose. He wants people to stay angry at the city because it’s the only way he gains votes. He certainly can’t win a contest of ideas or congeniality. Indeed, he was the city councilperson when serving to refuse to sign a civility pledge.
No, Bob’s game is to try and kill this noble project and opportunity. With contributions and volunteers for his campaign woefully lacking he needs to stir up opposition to things when none should exist. He’s the Lerner & Rowe of 2016 political candidates but unlike those advertising lawyer’s motto he is not the “way to go.”
But what’s more outrageous about Bob (and Kathy) Littlefield’s approach to Scottsdale is his and their opposition to a recent proposal by Mayor Jim Lane to bring direct representation to south Scottsdale, as well as areas in the central and northern parts of the city.
Recognizing no one living to the south of downtown Scottsdale has been elected for over a decade Lane proposed reforming Scottsdale governance with a “hybrid district” system whereby three city councilpersons would still be elected city-wide (as would the mayor) but the three other council seats would come from new districts in the north, central and southern parts of the community. The response to Lane’s proposal was overwhelmingly positive. Yet, when it came to standing up for the south in the most important vote in recent memory to give the area more say in city affairs where were the Littlefields? Opposing the plan.
Remember all of this the next time they knock on your door or talk about citizen’s rights. It’s all nonsense. And if this presidential election cycle has taught us anything – on the left and right – is that people are fed up with politicians that say one thing and do another. The Littlefields are Scottsdale’s best, worst local examples.