Scottsdale City Council Shifts Gears, Embraces Progressive Agenda

By Staff Reporter |

The Scottsdale City Council is undergoing a significant shift following the recent elections, which resulted in the election of several new members with conservative ideologies. This transformation brings an end to the current council’s progressive initiatives, including sustainability plans aligned with the Green New Deal.

Long-serving council members lost their seats, including Mayor Dave Ortega, who was defeated by Lisa Borowsky. Other incumbents, Tammy Caputi and Tom Durham, were replaced by newly elected officials Adam Kwasman and Maryann McAllen. The new council aims to reshape the city’s policies in a more conservative direction.

Kwasman expressed concerns regarding the outgoing council’s actions in its final weeks, stating they are rushing through significant decisions. He criticized their approach as “extremely regrettable,” indicating his commitment to reversing their policies where possible.

“We will do all we can to reverse the damage done,” Kwasman stated shortly after the elections.

Recent council meetings have focused on appointing new members to various committees, including the Environmental Advisory Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission. Vice Mayor Barry Graham raised alarms that the outgoing council is attempting to limit public discourse around its policy decisions, asserting that some agenda items were misrepresented to suppress opposition.

Graham claimed that the council staff had falsely categorized a rezoning proposal for Axon, a Scottsdale-based defense company, as a discussion item, when in fact it was scheduled for an action vote. He warned that residents might be redirected to an overflow area, potentially undermining their ability to voice concerns.

“A strategy that may favor the applicant,” Graham remarked, highlighting his criticism of the process. Last week, he suggested postponing the appointment of new commissioners by two weeks to allow the newly elected council members to participate, but his request was not accommodated.

In upcoming meetings, the council plans to evaluate a sustainability plan focused on addressing extreme heat strategies. While the council operates on a nonpartisan basis, most new members have Republican affiliations. McAllen stands out as the sole registered Democrat among the group.

Both Kwasman and his colleagues have strong ties to local Republican organizations. Mayor-elect Borowsky, who previously served on the council, is a proponent of fiscal conservatism aimed at strengthening Scottsdale’s economy, drawing on her prior experience and advocacy for conservative principles.