How Axon Made Barry Graham a Martyr

By Ronald Sampson Political money sometimes buys outcomes. Other times it manufactures the opposite. The campaign against Barry Graham may end up as a case study in the second category. Axon and its allied committees spent heavily to remove him from the Scottsdale City Council. What they produced instead was his clearest identity in years. Graham was not cruising before the … Read More

Too-Early-To-Call Results from Arizona’s Primary Election Day: Primary Validations, Shocks, and Comeback Stories in the Waiting

By Alexander Lomax The first election results dropped from the night, and absolutely nothing is set in stone at this moment, but there is definitely plenty of certainty and more than enough question marks to keep us hitting refresh on our browser constantly. First, Scottsdale. One councilmember is likely advancing and a few incumbents are fighting for their seats. Scroll … Read More

Solange’s Scottsdale Salience

By SongBird No matter how the elections turn out Tuesday for Scottsdale City Council, or in November, Solange Whitehead is a Hall of Famer. Amongst the contemporary rancor over Axon, out of state funding, apartments, development, transparency, elections and parking garages, one can forget her many, many contributions to the city over the past decade.  That shouldn’t be. She serves with … Read More

Guest Editorial: Just Say No to Barry Graham

By Steve Tyrrell Dear Editor: I previously voted for Barry Graham for City Council but will not be doing so this time.  Like many other Scottsdale residents I have grown tired of Mr. Graham’s attempt to portray himself as putting taxpayers first when in fact he does the opposite. His “Taxpayer First” slogan is just that: A slogan that is … Read More

Handicapping the Elections: Contested Primaries in Statewide Races

By Alexander Lomax The Arizona Governor’s Race Narrows to Two (plus Hobbs) Karrin Taylor Robson’s exit in February cleared the Republican gubernatorial field down to Andy Biggs and David Schweikert. Both are sitting members of Congress. Both will face off on July 21. Biggs holds a commanding financial edge. His campaign reports roughly $2.7 million raised for the cycle and … 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

Handicapping the Election: Arizona’s 1st Congressional District Primaries

By Alexander Lomax David Schweikert is gone. The longtime Republican congressman vacated Arizona’s 1st Congressional District to run for governor, and the seat he held since 2011 is now a free-for-all. It has favored Democrats in seven of the last nine statewide or presidential contests since 2020. Both primaries reflect that uncertainty: crowded, competitive, and unresolved. The Republican Primary: Trump’s … Read More