Zubia to Voters: “Secure Our Water” as Scottsdale Heads Toward Early Voting

By Raoul Zubia

With early voting beginning this week, I believe Scottsdale voters face a clear choice about our city’s future — and nowhere is that choice more important than water.

At last week’s City Council debate, I made water security the centerpiece of my campaign because it is the number one concern I hear from residents across Scottsdale.

I’m running to make sure we secure our water.

Scottsdale receives roughly 70% of its water from the Colorado River, leaving our city especially exposed as drought and declining reservoir levels create growing uncertainty across the West.

For decades, Scottsdale has been a leader in water conservation and recycling. We pioneered advanced water recycling and built a system designed to protect our quality of life for generations. We should be building on that legacy, not retreating from it.

My opponent Barry Graham has voted against critical water investments while arguing Scottsdale’s water remains secure and concerns about drought are overstated. At last week’s debate, he tried to justify those votes by suggesting additional water investments would simply enable more development.

That is a false choice. And I was glad to see the Arizona Republic fact-check Graham.

I have consistently said Scottsdale should not overdevelop. We must grow responsibly. But protecting our water supply is not about giving developers a blank check. It is about protecting the residents and businesses that are already here.

We can defend Scottsdale’s character and invest in the infrastructure necessary to secure our future.

That is why I am proud to have support from current and former Scottsdale leaders, water experts, firefighters, police officers and Preserve advocates who understand what is at stake.

Three candidates are running for two seats, but on water the choice is clear.

Scottsdale has spent decades preparing for an uncertain water future.

I’m running to make sure we don’t turn back now.