Op-Ed: Follow the Real Money, Mr. Nelson

Raoul Zubia-surrogate John Nelson attacked Councilman Barry Graham for voting with a 6-1 majority to advance a voter-approved parking project. Nelson speculated that a $1,000 contribution from a longtime art gallery influenced Graham’s vote on a project 37,000 residents already approved.  Silly.

While Mr. Nelson reviews campaign finance reports, he should look at Mr. Zubia’s.

Short-term rentals have plagued Scottsdale since the State stripped cities of zoning power. The Realtors of Arizona PAC — Zubia’s largest donor at $8,000 — has taken credit for stopping bills that would return local control. One legislator calls them the “biggest obstruction” to STR reforms. Why does the STR lobby prefer Zubia, and how would he vote on STRs?

The Bar District is the epicenter of Scottsdale’s crime. One of its dominant operators is on Zubia’s financials. Why does the Bar District seemingly prefer Zubia, and how would he vote on their applications?

Axon lobbied the Legislature to nullify Scottsdale’s referendum on its 2,000-apartment campus. Zubia accepted $5,000 from Axon’s president, and an Axon-linked PAC has spent over $250,000 to defeat Graham and Michelle Ugenti-Rita and elect Zubia. On 12News, Brahm Resnik asked why Axon supports him. Could Zubia ever tell Axon no?

Zubia also accepted $1,500 from partisan North Scottsdale Democrats, who spent another $1,100 attacking Graham. City government should be non-partisan — Why is a partisan group investing in Zubia, and how would he choose between party and Scottsdale?

Zubia was endorsed by the Democrat Socialists. They don’t endorse candidates unless they are of their ilk.
Let’s carefully review Zubia’s finances Mr Nelson.

Allen Frank