By Terrance Thornton
Twitter: @ININEWSMAN

In a matter of weeks, Scottsdale voters will decide who will become the next figurehead of The West’s Most Western Town.

Scottsdale hosts a primary election Tuesday, Aug. 4 meanwhile a general election could be held if needed, which would be Tuesday, Nov. 3. To be elected at the primary election, a candidate must receive a majority of all of the legal votes cast.

The field of mayoral candidates includes two current incumbents but none are strangers to the political limelight. They are:

• Incumbents Suzanne Klapp and Virginia Korte.
• Challengers: Lisa Borowsky, Bob Littlefield and David Ortega.

Independent Newsmedia offers its weekly question-and-answer series with mayoral candidates providing insights to paramount issues facing the city and its people.

For the next installment, mayoral candidates explore the local tourism industry, the impacts COVID-19 is having on the industry and the future of all things Scottsdale.

This is what they had to say:

Dave Ortega

•How do you think Scottsdale can evolve to survive the global pandemic of 2020?

COVID-19 has capsized the world economy and teaches us many lessons. Firstly, the medical Cure Corridor industry is an essential asset in Scottsdale and Arizona. Secondly, our schools and the city are inseparable allies. Thirdly, COVID-19 has turned the world away from eight-person elevators, high-density living, cramped transit and closed-in public spaces, where viruses spread.

Conclusion. The Scottsdale model, relying on open space, low-density, low-profile and open desert preservation; is the smart, desirable city. The world is turning toward our sophisticated Scottsdale model.

In 2018, the mayor and council brushed aside our Scottsdale 2001 General Plan. GP guiding principles state: protect our heritage, strengthen our tourism legacy, and assure infrastructure and transportation are sustainable. Instead, the mayor and council gave a green light to blade the 75-block area from Chaparral to Earll and 68th Street to Miller. Council re-classified the area for 6-story to 12-story buildings, creating a massive heat island that would bring 25,000 people to “Old Town.”

Such sweeping changes were not citizens approved. Upstream and downstream utility and street capacity are insufficient, resulting in gridlock. We must turn away from that COVID-conducive environment. We must change course by removing incumbents who would render Scottsdale unrecognizable, erasing our tourist allure.

Yes, redevelopment is vital but should be balanced to preserve our Scottsdale brand, at the right scale. Every Realtor I know tells me, buyers, from COVID -19-prone states are racing to Scottsdale, mainly because they can work from home.

We have well-planned neighborhoods and new school campuses, ready to serve. Growth provides the needed infill and stimulus as the pandemic subsides. Scottsdale will remain one of the most desirable cities in the world, without wall-to-wall 6- and 12-story buildings.

•If you are elected mayor, how will you champion tourism?

The Mayor of Scottsdale should excel in four roles, which residents and visitors will appreciate.

1) Celebrating daily, successes of existing businesses and new business innovation. Also, by visibly supporting neighborhood gatherings, regional and international events, the mayor will nurture our hospitable spirit.

2) Inspiring youth and peers by personal example promotes excellence. 41-years of my lifetime in Scottsdale enables me to relate, listen and draw out the inspirational stories of citizens and organizations. Together we collaborate, to accomplish what the city cannot do alone.

3) Remembering that the world is in recovery mode, showing compassion when adversity is in the mind of a visitor, goes a long way.

The COVID-19 era brings some hesitation, which visitors overcome to visit Scottsdale. Confidence that Scottsdale is a healthy and safe city takes dedication and compassion.

4) Mayor and council are the gatekeepers for our rich history, leisure brand and easy business entry. We must encourage sustainable growth and deter speculative projects, which would ruin our tourism component.

Finally, the Valley population stands at 4.5 million, with 260,000 residing in Scottsdale. Scottsdale is a unique planned and natural environment.

As mayor, I would uphold our unique character, welcoming nature, family-friendly atmosphere and sophisticated business offerings. I pledge to and serve as a full-time mayor, who will listen and give everyone a fair shake.

•What makes Scottsdale a special place for people to visit and how can that message be translated during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?

The U.S. economy is 70% consumer-driven, both goods and services. Scottsdale is a pocket of prosperity and subject to economic declines.
It always has been. Arizona tourism is significant and Scottsdale is a “must visit” of local, regional, and international interest.

Arizona is in the initial shock phase of the pandemic. The transition phase will be slow because air travel is crippled. The short-term message, which Scottsdale should broadcast is, Scottsdale is the ideal place to be successful and work from home. COVID-19 will attract new energetic residents as the consumer demand recovers.

Finally, many Arizona leaders appear to be hiding-out rather than be proactive. Back in February, I suggested masks message “Shop Scottsdale” or “Safe to Shop.” The Valley must work in unison so that residents and valley-wide guests feel safe. We can all do our part, to stay healthy and get back to work and play as soon as possible.

•When you think about the future of Scottsdale tourism, how do you plan to build that vision through public policy?

In my private business experience, one plus one does not equal two. As in architecture, my vision is that the project must be greater than the sum of its parts. My vision as mayor is consistent, include everyone, find consensus and craft a win-win plus for the city.

In the past, taxpayer funds have been used to subsidize speculative developments, saddling us with $180M in debt. Today, speculative developments ask for bailouts and subsidies in the form of excessive height and density, putting our brand in jeopardy. Unacceptable.

I will work collaboratively with the new council to assure the Experience Scottsdale tourism promotion effort and the economic development office work in tandem, as Scottsdale and the economy blossom again.

Bob Littlefield

•How do you think Scottsdale can evolve to survive the global pandemic of 2020?

We need to proactively anticipate how the pandemic will impact our tourism and shopping revenue streams in the long term. More online shopping means lower sales tax collections and less retail development. Many of our biggest tourist events, such as the auto auctions, golf tournaments and equestrian events currently produce large crowds. Will people still want to gather in large crowds and risk getting sick? No doubt the smart people who run these events will put as much of their content as possible online, but that will mean less sales and bed tax revenue to the city. So, some changes need to be made to the way the city does business.

First, we should never have any no-bid contracts, period. Elimination of competition is a sure-fire way for the taxpayers to over-pay for products and services. Second, we need to remove the exception that allows the city in some circumstances to sell city-owned property without an open auction. Again, elimination of competition guarantees taxpayers will not receive full value for public assets.

•If you are elected mayor, how will you champion tourism?

One of the main responsibilities of the position of mayor is to act as a public and visible ambassador for our city. I take that role seriously and will dedicate myself to fulfilling it.

•What makes Scottsdale a special place for people to visit and how can that message be translated during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?

What makes Scottsdale Special?
• High standards for design, development and code enforcement;
• Lots of open space;
• Unobstructed views of the stunning natural landscape;
• Low density; and
• A unique Western character.
We need to return to our roots and emphasize these qualities because they are what made Scottsdale a tourist mecca in the first place!

•When you think about the future of Scottsdale tourism, how do you plan to build that vision through public policy?

In Scottsdale, tourism development has a dedicated funding source, the voter-approved bed tax. We need to ensure that money is being spent as effectively and efficiently as possible. We need to reduce the overhead --- such as executive salaries --- at Experience Scottsdale, the group the city contracts with for managing tourism development. In fact, we need to take a hard look at the entire contract with Experience Scottsdale to make sure we are getting full value for our bed-tax dollars.

Lisa Borowsky

•How do you think Scottsdale can evolve to survive the global pandemic of 2020?

Scottsdale will survive, and thrive, as we’ve done since becoming incorporated in 1951. The health crisis cannot destroy what makes our city great: Our amenities, weather, natural beauty and the can-do spirit of our residents.

•If you are elected mayor, how will you champion tourism?

As a committed advocate for tourism, once elected mayor, I will continue to champion Scottsdale’s inherent industry. I will advocate for quality development that respects our city’s unique character, protects precious open space, adds value to our position as a top tourist destination, and enhances our residents’ quality of life. What we can’t afford is more dense, substandard cookie-cutter development projects which degrade our long-standing reputation as a world-class destination for visitors, residents, and businesses which we’ve far too much of from the current council majority.

•What makes Scottsdale a special place for people to visit and how can that message be translated during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?

Everything makes Scottsdale a special place for visitors: Weather, natural Sonoran desert beauty, our western spirit, amazing sunsets, gorgeous resorts, amazing events, a friendly environment, great shopping, restaurants, galleries, and so much more. The city must work closely with industry organizations such as Experience Scottsdale and the Arizona Restaurant Association to ensure that we are doing everything to make people feel welcome, safe and at ease.

•When you think about the future of Scottsdale tourism, how do you plan to build that vision through public policy?

It is important to keep our eye on what has made Scottsdale a world-class tourism destination and improve upon those qualities. In addition to championing quality development and protecting our city’s natural attributes and precious open space, as mayor, I will work with industry groups, event producers, hoteliers, and other hospitality providers to advance Scottsdale as the premiere destination it has been and will continue to be, so long as we do what’s necessary to protect it.

Virginia Korte

•How do you think Scottsdale can evolve to survive the global pandemic of 2020?

First, we need to recognize that the longer it takes to slow the spread of the virus, the longer it will take us to rebound. So, we need to follow the guidelines --- stay home when we can, wear masks when we go out, avoid crowds, maintain social distancing and wash our hands. We must all do our part.
Additionally, we begin to develop an economic development plan to diversify our economy by attracting and retaining companies providing good jobs.

•If you are elected mayor, how will you champion tourism?

Tourism is closely tied to the quality of our community. As mayor, I will continue to work to maintain the quality and beauty of our community. Tourists’ preferences change over time and I will continue to work closely with the tourism community to ensure that we are working together to provide the amenities that appeal to our visitors today and in the future.

•What makes Scottsdale a special place for people to visit and how can that message be translated during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?

Tourists come here for our beautiful desert, weather, resorts, golf and events. While many events are on hold, both Scottsdale visitors and residents can still safely enjoy our resorts, desert, golf and our weather. More people are looking at drivable vacation destinations so we can appeal to more local and regional visitors.

•When you think about the future of Scottsdale tourism, how do you plan to build that vision through public policy?

We collaborate with Experience Scottsdale to promote Scottsdale as a tourist destination. Our Tourism Development Commission advises us on how best to invest our bed tax dollars. We work with these groups and members of the community to update a Tourism Strategic Plan that creates the vision, goals and strategies that ensures we continue to attract visitors.

Suzanne Klapp

•How do you think Scottsdale can evolve to survive the global pandemic of 2020?
The city will continue to work with Experience Scottsdale and our own Tourism department to develop strategies to bring tourists back to Scottsdale. The short-term strategy is to focus on visitors who can drive here from neighboring states, rather than flying. Scottsdale still has great resorts and hotels that provide a memorable experience and can accommodate meetings of organizations with great attention to health and safety. Long-term Scottsdale is still a top choice for businesses to relocate, particularly after their owners come here for business trips and vacations. We must continue to cultivate these owners to bring their businesses here because we are still known as a tourism-friendly and business-friendly community. For existing businesses, we have numerous programs developed to help businesses (including tourism-related businesses) remain open and weather the pandemic. With new CARES Act funding, totaling $5 million, we will respond to applications to assist them with working toward survival and eventually to thrive once again in our city.

•If you are elected mayor, how will you champion tourism?

I have served in recent years on the Experience Scottsdale board as a city representative. I have always championed tourism while in office and will continue to prioritize tourism by assuring we have a great city plan in place that strategically utilizes bed tax dollars to provide amenities that tourist’s desire. I will meet regularly with representatives of the tourism community to discuss how Scottsdale government can be a better advocate. I will continue to be intimately involved in finding solutions that can be provided by the government to bring our tourism community back to a premier position in the Valley.

•What makes Scottsdale a special place for people to visit and how can that message be translated during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?

We can promote our healthy outdoor lifestyle of hiking, biking, walking, jogging, equestrian activities, and activities that promote health and fitness and experiences in our open spaces, including the Preserve and the city parks. Many of us living through this pandemic are more concerned about healthy living than before the crisis, so Scottsdale’s recognition as a healthy city will bring people here for rest, relaxation and revival. We can capitalize on this through marketing programs that will entice visitors to our unique environment where social distancing is quite simple. After being sequestered for lengthy periods of time, our open spaces become a valuable amenity that the public and tourists in particular crave.

•When you think about the future of Scottsdale tourism, how do you plan to build that vision through public policy?

The city has encouraged tourism for many decades and has contracted with Experience Scottsdale to provide destination marketing funded by half of the proceeds received from hotel bed taxes. The city has established a policy of funding tourism-related capital projects, events and event development with the remainder of bed tax proceeds. And, the city is in the process of updating its economic development strategic plan, which will include our goals and strategies for supporting tourism as an economic driver.

Scottsdale is one of 39 communities in the country that has achieved the Gold level of a bicycle-friendly community. I propose that the city sets its sights on the Platinum level over the next 4-5 years and promotes greater bicycle tourism through a large public event that would tie the bike paths at the cross-cut canal, into the downtown area and eastward to the greenbelt, then northward along the greenbelt and through North Scottsdale.

The event would be a Tour de Scottsdale on a grand scale that eclipses all other bicycling events in the Valley. We must continue to add bicycle-friendly infrastructure throughout the city as part of our Transportation Master Plan. And I propose that Scottsdale create a master plan that maximizes the utilization of the canal banks in Scottsdale for multi-use paths and gathering places, particularly throughout the downtown area and eastward to the greenbelt.