Independent incumbents take a beating

Nov. 17—Mayor David Ortega and Councilwoman Tammy Caputi — even grading on the curve of politicians — both score high in self-confidence.

While Scottsdale elections are, in keeping with state law regulating cities and towns, "nonpartisan," there is nothing to stop parties from supporting candidates they favor.

But Ortega and Caputi both rejected any sort of party affiliation or backing.

They thought they could make it alone.

Caputi boasted of being "a true independent that puts the success of Scottsdale first, not partisan rhetoric" — and didn't look like she needed any outside help, raising over $400,000 for her reelection campaign.

And Ortega, who similarly boasted of his "independent" status, drummed up $280,000 in support.

Both saw their reelection hopes go up in smoke last week.

Scottsdale ballots only list candidates' names, with no labeling such as Republican, Democrat or other party affiliation.

Yet the winners this year received strong party support.

Ortega was trounced by Lisa Borowsky, a former councilwoman who received strong support from Republican groups.

One of Borowsky's campaign finance report expense lines: "Palo Verde Republican Women — dues/membership."

Borowsky, who lost by more than 4% to Ortega in 2020, "flipped the script" this time around with a roaring 8%-plus victory margin, according to unofficial results.

In the race for two City Council seats, Caputi came in third — behind former state representative Adam Kwasman, who received Republican endorsements, and Maryann McAllen, who was backed by Democratic groups.

Councilman Tom Durham, who instead of looking for endorsements begged "don't vote for me" at an October campaign event, was a distant fourth.

Ortega, Caputi, Durham and Betty Janik — who did not run for election — will serve at City Hall through Dec. 31.

Borowsky, Kwasman, McAllen and Jan Dubauskas — who won a council seat outright in the Primary Election — take office Jan. 1.

Bob Littlefield, husband of a current council member and a former councilman himself, declared that Ortega and Caputi each "made a huge strategic error by abandoning their registration as Dems and re-registering as independents."

Littlefield said that unlike those who won, Ortega and Caputi lacked party "foot soldiers" to carry them to victory.

The party argument is perhaps best illustrated by McAllen.

A former city employee, she is a political rookie who had modest fundraising — less than a tenth of Caputi's monster haul.

She had almost identical campaign messaging as Caputi: The city is doing great, keep things going.

Like Caputi, McAllen was a proponent of the two city propositions and booster of city staff.

Yet McAllen had something Caputi lacked: Democrats' support.

The groups AZ LD4 Dems and AZ LD3 Dems both endorsed McAllen — and McAllen only.

Though the two council seats were up for grabs, the local Democratic groups only put McAllen on their voting guides. They left the mayor's race blank.

A political unknown before she was elected to the council in 2020, Caputi told the Progress, "I never stopped running."

Indeed, beyond her fundraising, she has been an aggressive self-promoter, with "Coffee With Caputi" regular gatherings and a "Caputi on Council" newsletter.

Leading up the election, Caputi's big emailed pitch:

"I am an Independent. I make decisions for the benefit of our entire community; I am not beholden to party politics or partisan rhetoric."

Similarly, Ortega said he was proud to make another run without party backing.

"I am the only Independent-Latino-professional architect-University of Arizona grad ever elected in Scottsdale," Ortega boasted in an email to the Progress. "My record of service and profile is part of City of Scottsdale history.

"I won in 2020 with (the) same profile and without partisan structure."

Ortega previously ran for the county Board of Supervisors as a Democrat.

He told the Progress during the 2020 campaign that he became an independent after witnessing "partisan gridlock" while spending a year in Washington D.C.

But, given that the inexperienced McAllen cruised to victory with party support, does Ortega wish he had declared Democrat?

"No comment," Ortega replied.

In a Nov. 13 "Caputi on Council" email, Caputi complained her "forward-thinking, Independent message" was overwhelmed by "an anti-incumbent cycle that seemed to value partisanship over merit."

She said she won thousands of votes despite "both parties working against me."

Party-backed winners

McAllen and Kwasman both sidestepped party affiliations and endorsements when asked by the Progress for comment.

McAllen, who was previously appointed to two terms on the Parks and Recreation Commission, said she was "grateful to all citizens" for her election.

She ran a positive-focused campaign and continued to "have an optimistic outlook" moving ahead.

"Regardless of backgrounds, hopefully people will move forward and come together for the good of the city," McAllen said. "I'm excited to work with a new city council."

Ditto for Kwasman, who during the campaign bashed incumbents — and was bashed in return.

"I'd like to thank council members Caputi, Durham and Janik for their service to Scottsdale," he said. "Thankfully, the vitriol coming from some of my opponents was disregarded."

Like McAllen, Kwasman dodged comment on party backing — though he received support from LD 3 and 4 Republicans.

"The voters' voices were clearly heard," Kwasman said, "and this was very much a change election....I feel honored to have placed first and I know that I must deliver results."

New vs. old

The current Scottsdale City Council: Mayor Ortega and members Caputi, Durham, Janik, Solange Whitehead, Barry Graham and Kathy Littlefield.

The next Scottsdale City Council: Mayor Borowsky and members Kwasman, Dubauskas, Whitehead, Graham, Kathy Littelfield and McAllen.

The new council will have a new city manager.

After landing a job to lead Loveland, Colorado, north of Denver, current Scottsdale City Manager Jim Thompson announced he is resigning here effective Dec. 30.

The city has not announced a hiring process.

Reveling in the election of like-minded candidates, Dubauskas declared a "super majority" on council.

"I see myself, Lisa, Adam, Kathy, and Barry as the 'resident-friendly' super majority," the councilwoman-elect explained.

"That is not a statement about conservative or liberal — it's a focus on the residents, who just made their views on the current incumbents very clear."

Dubauskas called out the current council as "lame ducks" bent on passing as much as possible while they remain in office — strongly suggesting her own "super majority" will oppose development.

The numbers game

According to Maricopa County Department of Elections records, Scottsdale has 74,104 voters who registered as Republicans and 44,373 registered as Democrats.

Some 60,000 are listed as "other" — which includes independents.

According to City Clerk Ben Lane, Scottsdale has 172,583 registered voters.

As of counts released one week after Election Day, nearly 90% of them took part in the election.

In 2020, 86% of Scottsdale's registered voters participated in the General election.

Just four years ago, according to city records, Scottsdale had 181,629 registered voters.

In 2022, a non-presidential election, Solange Whitehead and Kathy Littlefield each scored over 43% of votes to score outright wins in the primary, topping the field of seven. Barry Graham and Pamela Carter had a November runoff, with Graham eventually winning.

According to the city, there were 167,313 registered voters in Scottsdale two years ago.

In 2022, the city estimated its population at 242,750 — down from 258,000 in 2020.

This year, the city says Scottsdale's population is 244,394 — up slightly from 2022 but still down 5% from 2020.