Op-Ed: Scottsdale Needs Experienced Leadership — and I’ve Seen Michelle Ugenti’s Work Up Close

After 16 years of knowing Michelle Ugenti and working with her on numerous occasions during her service as my state legislator, I have had the opportunity to see how she approaches public service, difficult issues and the responsibility of representing the people who elected her. That firsthand experience is why I believe her candidacy for Scottsdale City Council deserves serious consideration.

Local government decisions affect our lives every day. They shape our neighborhoods, influence traffic and development, determine how taxpayer dollars are spent, and help preserve the character of the community we call home. Scottsdale needs council members who understand that these decisions have consequences well beyond the next election cycle.

My support for Michelle is grounded in knowing her over time and having worked with her directly. I have seen her in her role as a legislator, where the issues are often complicated and the consequences of public policy are real. That experience matters as Scottsdale faces important decisions about its future.

In Arizona, water is not an abstract policy debate. It is fundamental to our homes, our economy, our environment and our ability to sustain future generations. Scottsdale must plan carefully as uncertainty surrounding the Colorado River puts additional pressure on communities throughout the state.

Michelle has made protecting Scottsdale’s long-term water supply a central part of her campaign. She has raised concerns about the costs, safety questions and public confidence surrounding the proposed expansion of advanced purified recycled water for drinking. Those concerns deserve a transparent, fact-based public discussion.

Scottsdale should examine every responsible option for securing reliable water, including conservation, diversified supplies, infrastructure investments and water-reuse technologies. Residents deserve clear answers about costs, independent safety oversight, long-term reliability and the alternatives available to the city. No major water decision should be made without accountability and a full understanding of its implications for residents and future generations.

Water policy must also be considered alongside growth. Development decisions should reflect realistic assessments of available water, infrastructure capacity and the long-term needs of the community. Growth can bring economic opportunity, but it must be planned responsibly so that Scottsdale’s quality of life is not compromised.

These are precisely the kinds of consequential issues that call for experience, careful scrutiny and a willingness to ask difficult questions.

Scottsdale also faces a broader challenge: preserving what makes it distinctive while preparing for the future. Our neighborhoods, open spaces, Western character and quality of life are valuable assets. Protecting them requires thoughtful planning, responsible stewardship of public funds and a city government that listens to residents rather than taking their concerns for granted.

Having known Michelle for 16 years, I believe her experience in state government gives her useful perspective on the relationship between city and state policy. She understands the legislative process and has firsthand experience working through complicated public issues. That background can be valuable when Scottsdale must advocate for its interests and make decisions that affect residents for years to come.

Of course, city government is different from state government. It requires listening closely to neighborhoods, understanding local needs and working through the details of municipal budgets, services and development proposals. Experience is most valuable when it is paired with accountability, an open mind and a willingness to hear from people who disagree.

I believe Michelle’s long record of public service and her familiarity with the issues facing Scottsdale make her candidacy worthy of consideration by voters.

I am writing this not as someone who has simply watched her from a distance, but as someone who has known her for 16 years and worked with her many times. That history gives me a basis for evaluating her approach to public service and explaining why I support her candidacy.

Scottsdale is making decisions today that will shape the city our children and grandchildren inherit. Water security, responsible growth, fiscal accountability and the preservation of our community’s character deserve careful attention from everyone seeking a seat on the City Council.

For these reasons, I support Michelle Ugenti for Scottsdale City Council and encourage Scottsdale voters to take a close look at her experience, her priorities and her plans for the city’s future.