Published on February 16, 2026

Municipal Authority Needs
to Be Protected

I would like to take this opportunity to share with you how my tenure serving in the Arizona State legislature will bring experience and a unique perspective to the Council. During my first term in the House of Representatives, I was appointed to serve as Chairman of the Government Committee, which had jurisdiction over legislation directly impacting city government. As you may already be aware, in Arizona, city governments derive their authority from guidance provided in the Arizona Revised Statutes (primarily in Title 9). Oftentimes, cities, towns, and counties are referred to as “political subdivisions” of the state.

With 91 cities and towns in Arizona, all with similar issues as well as unique issues of their own, the legislature is often the place where these problems are resolved. In the recent past, some of the major issues were the allocation of state-shared revenues, consolidation of municipal election dates, repealing the municipal rental tax, and prohibiting the municipal taxation of digital goods and services. Today and for the foreseeable future, residents should be aware that the regulation of short-term rentals, zoning, affordable housing mandates, water rights, and transportation funding will all be hotly debated issues at the state legislature. As you can imagine, the resolution of these issues involves a myriad of diverse stakeholders (with equally diverse positions) from both the public and private sectors. 

Scottsdale’s distinct characteristics and reputation for quality and exceptionalism will be greatly impacted if these issues are not managed properly. I am the only candidate positioned to elevate Scottsdale’s presence at the state legislature to make sure our interests are protected and our voice is heard. A recent telling example demonstrating this need was last year, when Axon caught the City flat-footed and went to the legislature to obliterate the constitutional right of our residents to vote on their massive 1,900-apartment mega development project. Unfortunately, with our voice stifled at the capital, Governor Katie Hobbs, unconcerned for the people of Scottsdale, happily signed Axon’s unconstitutional bill.

As your next Councilwoman, not only will I protect our municipal authority at the legislature, but I will also preserve the characteristics that make Scottsdale exceptional so we continue to prosper. Please join our campaign by signing my petition and voting for me on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

Sincerely,