Guest Editorial: What Makes a Good Candidate

By Mary Manross Do you know Solange Whitehead? I have known her for over 20 years. That is why I am proud to serve as Honorary Chair for her campaign for Scottsdale City Council. The first question I have for candidates is what do they believe are the most critical issues facing Scottsdale? Secondly, have they ever shown an ability … Read More

Mayor’s Borowsky’s Statement Regarding Termination of Chief of Staff

“I was informed by city management today, after a 65-day investigation, that Chief of Staff R. Lamar Whitmer, has been terminated. To be clear, I do not condone inappropriate workplace conversations, did not witness them and would not tolerate them. Furthermore, I fully believe workplace rules should be followed, public trust should never be abused, and this has been fully … Read More

ParkingGate 2.0: Scottsdale’s $100K-Per-Spot Garage Just Won’t Quit

By Alexander Lomax Just when you thought Scottsdale’s most dramatic parking saga might finally find a spot to rest, the city went ahead and unveiled its grand vision for the Brown Avenue Parking Structure Expansion: a four-level, Western-style garage that will set taxpayers back a cool $18 million, or roughly $100,000 per parking stall. Yes, per stall. Let that marinate. … Read More

Is There an Anti-Incumbent Wave in Tempe? Recent City Elections Border on Shocking

Something unexpected is happening in Tempe. The March 2026 city council election, a race for three seats among seven candidates including three incumbents, has produced results that few political observers saw coming, and the story isn’t over yet. The clearest winner of the night was incumbent Arlene Chin, who cleared the majority threshold outright and earned re-election without a runoff. … Read More

It’s Official: I am on the Ballot

By Councilwoman Solange Whitehead   It’s Official: I am on the Ballot Get ready to vote in the July 21, 2026 Primary Election! I’m pleased to announce that my nominating paperwork is filed and I am officially on the ballot for re‑election to Scottsdale City Council. With the incredible help of volunteers—and knocking on doors and visiting neighborhoods —I proudly … Read More

A Career Built on Service: Jeff Walther Announces Retirement from Scottsdale

After 32 years of service to the City of Scottsdale  and a career arc few could have scripted. Assistant City Manager Jeff Walther announced this week that he will retire on April 3, 2026. In a letter shared with city staff, Walther reflected with characteristic grace on a journey that took him from patrol officer to the highest ranks of … Read More

Recent Political Sighting Demonstrates Both the Best and Worst of Scottsdale

By Ronald Sampson Scottsdale is a city that prides itself on a certain standard — of beauty, of civic engagement, of community. So when a single photograph taken at a San Francisco Giants spring training game manages to capture both what is right and what is deeply wrong about local politics, it’s worth pausing to reflect on both. The image … Read More

Guest Editorial: What I’m Working On: Water, Trees, and More

  By Councilwoman Solange Whitehead     Which Headline do You Want? For decades, Scottsdale has planned for cuts to the city’s allocation of water from the Colorado River. The headline we worked toward was simple: “Scottsdale not Impacted by Colorado River Cuts” A proposed departure from that long-term planning by the City’s new management could flip the headline — and threaten Scottsdale’s … Read More