Field set for mayoral, council primaries

Apr. 7—Scottsdale voters will have quite a range of candidates — from seasoned political veterans to fresh newcomers — to ponder over when ballots are mailed for the July 30 Primary Election..

An even dozen candidates collected the minimum 1,000 petition signatures, with three candidates vying for mayor and nine for three other City Council seats.

According to one candidate, the most common question: "What party are you?"

That's a tough one to answer, as unlike the supercharged federal and state elections, municipal elections in Arizona elections are nonpartisan.

Scottsdale voters will see ballots listing Lisa Borowsky, Linda Milhaven and incumbent David Ortega as choices for mayor.

All are familiar names who have previously been voted into office.

The nine chasing the three council seats are: Jan Dubauskas, Maryann McAllen, Stephen Casares, Mason Gates, Justin Laos, Adam Kwasman, Robert Lettieri and incumbents Tom Durham and Tammy Caputi.

Councilwoman Betty Janik's term expires at the end of this year, but she is not running for reelection.

The mayor and council members have equally weighted votes on everything from tax rates to decisions on developments and road work.

Having four of the seven elected positions in play sets the stage for one of the city's most contested campaign seasons.

Mayoral hopefuls

Milhaven is a previous three-term City Council member who termed out last year.

"I am uniquely qualified to manage our financial challenges with my extensive business experience having spent over 40 years in banking," Milhaven says on her campaign website.

Borowsky, an attorney, also previously served on City Council — before failing in a run for mayor in 2020.

"I am honored by the outpouring of support we received while collecting signatures, obtaining double the required amount," said Borowsky.

"I really enjoy the signature collection process," she told the Progress, "which promotes direct, organic and honest voter discussions ... 99% of those interactions confirmed what residents have been sharing with me for the past three years: Scottsdale residents have major concerns with the direction the city is taking. It is time to change that."

No change is needed, according to Ortega's email to this newspaper.

"I am proud that under my leadership, council increased funds every year for police and fire departments, protected Scottsdale Water from outsiders, fought the short-term rental debacle and restored our community vision," Ortega said.

"I look forward to the campaign since my opponents are holdovers from the previous councils' inaction."

City Council

The council card is a mixture of familiar names and newcomers.

On her campaign website, Dubauskas describes herself as "wife, mother, Christ-follower, community leader, and freedom-loving patriot."

She is also an attorney who failed in an election attempt to represent District 3 as a state senator.

"It's an honor to have the trust and confidence of so many Scottsdale voters," Dubauskas said of making the Scottsdale ballot.

Kwasman is also an attorney and was elected as a state representative in 2012. Two years later, he failed in a bid for a Congress seat.

"I'm humbled to announce that we turned in more than double the amount of signatures necessary to qualify for the Scottsdale City Council ballot," Kwasman said in a Facebook post March 25. "We're going to fight for Scottsdale's families and preserve its incredible character."

Laos calls himself an active community member and a software engineer who previously served on Scottsdale's Board of Adjustment.

He said he is "very excited to be on the ballot by turning in more than double the needed signatures ... I'll continue to campaign hard everyday and secure a victory to help put Scottsdale on the best path forward."

McAllen's campaign site boasts of living in Scottsdale for 59 years. She has been appointed to the city's Parks and Recreation and Paths and Trails commission, as well as the Scottsdale Unified School District Bond Oversight Committee.

Additionally, McAllen worked in the city's Human Services Department for seven years and the Parks and Recreation Department for eight.

McAllen said she was "thrilled" to get enough support signatures to make the ballot.

"As a former city employee and long-time community advocate it is truly an honor to be on the ballot," McAllen said.

Caputi and Durham have been on City Council since 2020.

"I'm happy to be on the 2024 ballot, proud to have support from all sectors of our city and thrilled to be charging forward into the primary," Caputi said.

"We are very excited to be on the ballot by turning in more than double the needed signatures. I think this shows the momentum the campaign has and how our message of reasonable not radical leadership is resonating with Scottsdale voters."

Durham thanked "Scottsdale voters who signed my petitions to help me get on the ballot, and my friends and supporters who helped to collect these signatures. I am honored to have received their support for re-election."

After a career in corporate finance, Lettieri is attempting to enter local politics.

"I will bring my skills as a CFO to the city to analyze the budget and make recommendations others don't have the experience or confidence to voice," Lettieri says on his campaign page.

Casares, another political newcomer, describes himself on his campaign website as "a West Point cadet and commissioned intelligence officer in the Army of the United States."

He said he is "very excited" to be on the ballot — and no mud-slinging, from him.

"I genuinely like and respect each of my fellow candidates," Casares said, "and I'm ready to get to work in the primaries and general election."

His early campaign marching cry:

"Let's have fun and get work done along the way!"

Gates is another newcomer to politics — and, at 21, by far the youngest candidate on the ballot.

"Prior to moving to Arizona, I resided in Kansas City, where I self-funded and founded three businesses before the age of 18," he says on his campaign website.

He vowed that getting on the ballot is just the first step of his journey.

"I'd like to say thank you to the many neighbors who granted me an opportunity to represent our great city," Gates told the Progress.

"We must prevent this city from falling into disarray by restoring resident-friendly leadership that puts your interests above all."