By Ronald Sampson Michelle Ugenti-Rita has had two very different moments on camera lately. One was a masterclass in how to answer a powerful opponent. The other, caught on camera at a debate, handed her rival a gift. First, the ace. Standing in front of a sign that shows her in cornrows, Ugenti-Rita said Axon could have simply opposed her … Read More
Former Scottsdale Planning Commissioner Christian Serena Weighing in on the Scottsdale City Council Race
I served on Scottsdale’s Planning Commission when Axon asked us to approve roughly 1,900 apartments at Hayden and the Loop 101. I read every page of the plans. I listened to the residents who filled our hearings. And I voted no. What followed was documented in a letter from the city attorney: pressure aimed at my private employer over that … Read More
Op-Ed: Vote for Zubia in Scottsdale, a leader who listens
By Raoul Zubia Scottsdale is a community we share and a future we shape together. I am deeply concerned about the direction of our city council. Cutting vital water resources and trading solutions for political infighting is not what residents should accept from their leaders. That is why I am running: That means securing our water, investing in public safety, … Read More
Scottsdale Hall of Famer: Jim Bruner
Every city has a few people whose fingerprints are everywhere, even though most residents never learn their names. Jim Bruner is one of those people in Scottsdale. With this piece, we launch a new series celebrating the men and women who built the city we enjoy today. Consider it our Honor Roll, the Arizona Progress & Gazette Hall of Fame. … Read More
Guest Editorial: Steady Leadership, Not Selective Outrage
By Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas Councilman Barry Graham leads with logic, patience, and courage. That’s why I was disappointed to see Councilwoman Solange Whitehead level inaccurate criticisms at him that are designed to promote her radical candidate for the 2026 Scottsdale City Council general election. Whitehead overlooks an important chapter in Scottsdale’s history: the period when Whitehead led the council majority … Read More
Guarantee: Michelle Ugenti-Rita Will Win One Of Two Remaining Scottsdale Council Seats Up For Grabs In November
By Hamilton With the surprising and some would say selfless decision by Bob Littlefield to withdraw from the Scottsdale City Council race, it leaves three candidates for two seats this fall: former state lawmaker Michelle Ugenti-Rita, incumbent Councilman Barry Graham and community advocate Raoul Zubia, who is making a more spirited run after an unsuccessful candidacy in 2022. But there … Read More
Guest Editorial: Moving Forward in The Fight to Keep Scottsdale Special!
Dear Friends, Today I made the difficult and personally painful decision to withdraw from the City Council race and return to my position as the Chairman of TAAAZE (Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions). I made this decision based on the results of the recent primary election and the effect those results have had on the Scottsdale political landscape. My … Read More
Getting to Know Your Candidates: AP&G’s Exclusive Interview with Scottsdale Councilman Barry Graham
We reached out to all Scottsdale City Council candidates with the same questionnaire but with two questions personalized for each candidate at the end. The submissions have been posted in the order they were received back. Do you support the Axon development as originally proposed, including up to 1,900 residential units, or the compromise proposal of around 600 units? If … Read More
Guest Editorial: Bad for Scottsdale: Graham, Littlefield, Ugenti-Rita, Sloan
By Linda Milhaven Hi, Friends! If you are as embarrassed as I am with the chaos, infighting, deaf ears and poor decision making of the current City Council then we need to be sure that none of these candidates get elected. They promise more of the same, and if it’s possible, maybe something worse. Here is how I see them. … Read More
Breaking News: Axon Is Polling to Purchase a Scottsdale City Council
By Alexander Lomax The corporate playbook for buying local influence is not new. Scottsdale has seen it before. But the scale and audacity of what appears to be unfolding ahead of the July 21st primary deserves the full attention of every resident who cares about who actually governs this city. Several sources say Axon Enterprise is conducting active polling in … Read More