After Decades in Local Government, Thompson Brings Public-Sector Perspective to Growing Phoenix Firm Former Scottsdale City Manager Jim Thompson is heading home to Arizona for a new chapter in the private sector. Following 40 years in city government, Thompson will join the Sustainability Engineering Group as president and chief growth officer starting July 1, 2026, bringing decades of experience in … Read More
Better Together’s Blank Check: Who’s Really Funding the PAC Attacking Barry Graham?
By Alexander Lomax A New PAC, a Familiar Playbook A political action committee called Better Together has spent more than $250,000 attacking three Scottsdale City Council candidates, and Scottsdale voters still don’t know who is paying for it. The committee filed with the state on June 5. Its first campaign finance report isn’t due until July 15, well after most … Read More
Second Ethics Complaint Against Kathy Littlefield Dismissed. The Bigger Question Is Who Keeps Filing Them
By Ronald Sampson A Complaint That Never Had Legs An independent hearing officer has dismissed the second ethics complaint filed against Scottsdale Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield over her votes on Axon’s headquarters campus. Local activist Dan Ishac argued Littlefield should have recused herself because her husband, Bob Littlefield, chairs TAAAZE, the group fighting Axon’s apartment plans. Hearing Officer Robert Donfeld ruled … Read More
Guest Editorial: Kick Out the Clowns: Elect Raoul Zubia.
By John Ainlay Scottsdale City Council is a clown show. That’s why I commend Raoul Zubia’s campaign signs that read “Kick out the clowns.” This slogan will resonate with anyone who has attended a council meeting in the last year and a half and it expresses exactly what voters need to do this July when we have an opportunity to … Read More
Guest Editorial: Scottsdale Apartments QnA
By Councilwoman Solange Whitehead Protecting Scottsdale’s Character My job is to protect Scottsdale—not to cast meaningless “no” votes for political theater. My record of stopping bad development is unmatched. Just as importantly, I’ve negotiated better projects and helped transform blighted, crime-attracting properties into vibrant destinations. I’ve also changed rules and improved the baseline for development: Adopted building codes that reduce … Read More
Getting to Know Your Candidates: An Exclusive AP&G Interview with PV Town Council Candidate Daran Wastchak
Daran Wastchak is an entrepreneur, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He has lived in Paradise Valley for over 20 years and is now a candidate for the PV Town Council. You’ve lived in Paradise Valley for 20 years. What first drew you here, and what has kept your family rooted in this community? As a native of Arizona, I … Read More
A Message from Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield
Dear Friends, First and foremost, I thank all of you for the support, ideas, and concerns you have given me over the past 12 years that I have served you on City Council. Thank you so very much for this opportunity to serve our fair city! I am termed out this year and will miss this wonderful opportunity to … Read More
Axon’s Political Gamble: What Shareholders Should Know
By Vanessa Rogers A Public Company Playing a Very Expensive Local Game Axon Enterprise is no stranger to big bets. But its latest wager may be the riskiest one yet: pouring money into Scottsdale city council races through a political action committee, while the company’s stock sits roughly 27 percent below where it started the year. That is not a … 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