“The Hopeful Eight” continue their quest to win your vote.

In 10 days, Maricopa County will begin mailing ballots and primary voting begins.

While voting across the state will narrow the pool of Democrats and Republicans in various races, Scottsdale’s City coming-soon primary is “nonpartisan.”

Voters here will narrow down a field of eight aiming for three City Council seats.

The Progress sent out extensive questionnaires to the eight candidates.

The second excerpt of the questions and answers is below.

The full questions and answers are posted at scottsdale.org.

Candidates also submitted guest columns to the Progress, scheduled to run in the June 21 edition.

The candidates, in alphabetical order:

  • Crystal Carroll, an Old Town cafe owner who says she is charged up to fight a parking garage;
  • Councilman Barry Graham, an accountant and leader of “the Conservative Bloc” who is running for reelection;
  • Ethan Knowlden, a former San Francisco attorney who is president of the DC Ranch Community Council;
  • Former Councilman Bob Littlefield, leader of the political action committee challenging Axon’s expansion;
  • Eric Sloan, a business owner who twice failed in runs for the Arizona Corporation Commission;
  • Michelle Ugenti-Rita, a former state senator and representative;
  • Councilwoman Solange Whitehead, running for a third term;
  • Raoul Zubia, a business consultant who failed in a 2022 run for City Council.

Some answers were edited for length.

What is your position on the planned Old Town First and Brown parking garage?

Carroll: I believe Scottsdale must fully justify major taxpayer-funded projects before moving forward. Residents deserve transparency, updated data, and clear communication to ensure the parking garage’s need, location, and financial impact are thoroughly evaluated before committing public dollars.

Graham: I stood with 37,000 residents and Old Town merchants who voted for more downtown parking despite a months-long dark money campaign against it. When we discovered a behind-the-scenes plan to sell the Corral lot for high-density housing, approving the garage stopped that anti-parking agenda in its tracks.

Knowlden: Investment in parking solutions should be data driven. That is why I support commissioning a parking study for Old Town/Downtown. The city needs to embrace smart planning to reduce parking needs, consider shared parking strategies, and make targeted investments in wayfinding (e.g., digital signage) in high-demand areas.

Littlefield: I supported it.

 Sloan: Old Town needs reliable parking for residents, visitors, workers, and small businesses. Since voters approved bond funding for expanded Old Town parking, the city should deliver the project responsibly, manage construction impacts, preserve Old Town’s character, and keep the public informed on costs, timelines, and design.

Ugenti-Rita: Voters approved a bond measure in 2019 to fund additional parking in Old Town, and the current City Council voted to move forward with the First and Brown parking garage. This issue has been resolved.

Whitehead: I voted for a parking study and against building the garage without one because fiscal responsibility requires data before spending taxpayer dollars. The Council majority rejected the study and approved a $20 million garage plus $10 million in interest. I did successfully keep the Farmer’s Market in Old Town.

Zubia: A $20-to-$30 million parking structure based on outdated data is a misuse of public resources. It risks sitting underutilized while construction disrupts local merchants and harms Old Town’s walkable charm. We must pivot toward flexible, data-driven, and cost-unique character.

Do you support funding Scottsdale’s recycled water (aka Advanced Water Treatment or Advanced Water Purification) program?

Zubia: Water security is the foundational responsibility we owe to the next generation. I strongly support accelerating investments in advanced water purification to reduce our dependence on the Colorado River. By pairing technical discipline with regional

partnerships, we can maximize every drop and build a secure, sustainable water future for Scottsdale.

Whitehead: Absolutely! Scottsdale’s Strategic Water Plan prioritizes APRW – pure water – because it is the most cost-effective, certain, and drought resistant source of water available. Advanced treatment – regardless of the source – delivers the cleanest and safest water. Scottsdale’s water future water depends on river, ground, recycled, and conserved water.

Ugenti-Rita: This is new technology. It’s reckless to move forward before we fully understand the long-term costs, health implications, and regulatory framework. Unlike Solange Whitehead, who is desperate to make Scottsdale the first city in Arizona to pump treated sewage water directly into your tap, so she can justify rubber-stamping thousands more high-density apartments …

Sloan: Water security is essential to Scottsdale’s future. I support smart investments in water security with strong oversight, clear cost controls, and accountability. Scottsdale must protect its long-term water supply.

Littlefield: No. I believe this program is untested and unproven, but more to the point it is clear this is being proposed not to serve the needs of our current residents but as a way to justify even more overdevelopment.

Knowlden: We need to reaffirm our commitment to the Scottsdale Water Strategic Plan 2025–2030 and move aggressively on the recommended capital investments. These include automated meter infrastructure, improved groundwater recovery and SRP pumping capabilities, introducing Advanced Purified Recycled Water, and participating in the Bartlett Dam expansion and additional APRW facilities.

Graham: We already fund recycled water for golf courses and aquifer recharge. However, piping it into our drinking supply should be a last resort. “Toilet-to-Tap” advocates downplay the $150M-plus price tag and ignore our water experts’ decades of preparation through recharge, conservation, deferred credits, aquifer purchases, and dam expansion.

Carroll: Yes. Water security is critical to Scottsdale’s future. I support smart, data-driven investments in recycled water infrastructure that protect long-term sustainability while ensuring projects are financially responsible, transparent, and carefully evaluated before major taxpayer commitments are made.

How will you deal with citizens upset about how you vote?

Sloan: I will listen respectfully and remain accessible. Residents deserve honesty and transparency. My commitment is to make decisions based on facts, public input, and fiscal responsibility.

Knowlden: I’ll work to restore non-agendized public comment to the start of Council meetings. Then I’ll listen to residents who come to offer their criticism. If you aren’t prepared to deal with disagreement, don’t run for office. I’ll also work to increase Council accessibility through town halls and one-on-one meetings.

Ugenti-Rita: Respectfully.

Carroll: I understand not everyone will agree with every decision I make. My commitment is to listen respectfully, communicate openly, and ensure residents feel heard. I’ll make decisions based on what is best for Scottsdale’s long-term success while maintaining transparency, professionalism, and accountability.

Whitehead: Early on, I invest time with residents, stakeholders, and staff to ensure a yes vote achieves objectives that benefit Scottsdale and minimize any downsides.  When those objectives can’t be met, I vote no.  Councilmembers that always vote “no” or “yes” don’t do the work to deliver what’s best for Scottsdale.

Graham: After promising voters I wouldn’t go along to get along when they elected me in 2022, I expected it wouldn’t sit well with those defending the status quo. However, I always respect their opinions—even when their agendas aren’t resident-friendly.

Zubia: When people are upset about a vote, my responsibility is to offer respect and radical transparency. We won’t always reach a unanimous consensus, but we must always explain the “why”; I will always listen to dissenting views, ground my decisions in data, and focus on building consensus for our future.

Littlefield: I don’t get upset when people disagree with me but I do tend to stand my ground.

How do you feel about Scottsdale’s current budget and the proposed 2026-27 budget?

Littlefield: I think the internal spending is about right but we still spend too much on external contractors.

Knowlden: The city has a strong revenue base, modest debt burden, and sufficient reserves to absorb unanticipated expenses over the short term. But we must stop giving away transportation grants and wasting money on fruitless litigation. Long-term planning, especially around water sustainability, pension obligations, and growing maintenance obligations, must be improved.

Whitehead: The proposed budget is higher, not lower! The illusion of cost savings will hit us financially in the near term.  Key staff positions and critical infrastructure projects are eliminated. (Even veterans’ programs are defunded). This threatens secure and affordable water, safe infrastructure, and Scottsdale’s brand as a luxury place …

Graham: The FY27 budget is a back-to-basics plan for Scottsdale. It is sustainable, promotes a lean and accountable workforce, funds public safety, reduces deferred maintenance, prioritizes water security, and stops harmful ideology from driving city spending. This puts Scottsdale taxpayers first.

Sloan: Scottsdale is fortunate to have strong resources, but every budget deserves scrutiny. I want public safety, infrastructure, water, parks, and core services prioritized. The city must keep taxes low, avoid waste, maintain reserves, and make sure residents can clearly see what they are paying for.

Zubia: Our budget must reflect long-term vision, not short-term convenience. Removing the Advanced Purified Recycled Water Expansion and the Bartlett Dam study from the CIP sacrifices foundational water security for temporary fiscal metrics. True discipline means protecting our taxpayer dollars while ensuring our infrastructure is ready for the generational challenges ahead.

Carroll: Scottsdale is financially strong, but maintaining that requires accountability and transparency. I support efficient spending, data-driven capital planning, and clearer communication with residents. The budget should reflect community priorities, protect core services, and ensure long-term financial stability.

Ugenti-Rita: As an 11-year member of the Appropriations Committee who helped craft Arizona’s billion-dollar state budgets, I bring budget experience my opponents do not have. I support getting back to basics by investing in infrastructure, prioritizing police and fire, and making strategic cuts to operational spending.

June 22 open house

The Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce a June 22 “open house” for the council candidates.

According to the Chamber, this will be a chance for the public “to meet and ask questions of the candidates, allowing them to articulate their visions and policies in an open, public environment.”

Each candidate will discuss “plans for addressing the city’s most pressing issues, ensuring all voices are heard and allowing the electorate to make sound and informed decisions at the ballot box.”

The open house starts at 5 p.m. Monday, June 22, at the Homestead Community Center at DC Ranch, 18600 N. 98th Street.

Attendance is free; registration is required.

To register: scottsdalechamber.com.

Key dates

June 22: Last day to register to vote in the July 21 Primary Election.

June 24: Early voting begins and early ballots mailed.

July 21: Primary Election Day

Oct. 5: Last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 General Election.

Oct. 7: Early voting begins and early ballots mailed

Nov. 3: General Election Day