Reading the diatribe written by R.L. Whitmer, it amazes me that he acknowledges knowing me for 25 years. Other than that, his accusations are total falsehoods.
Firstly, Whitmer should go to Scottsdaleaz.gov/Preserve. There he can educate himself by reading the book “Peoples Preserve,” written by City Historian Joan Fudala. It tells the epic story of how Scottsdale citizens banded together to designate the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and acquire 57 square miles piece-by-piece.
Refer especially to pages 50-58 and read how McDowell Sonoran Preserve activists, city staff, mayors and City Councils worked to pass the statewide Arizona Preserve Initiative (API).
Honorable Senator Carolyn Allen spearheaded API, which allowed the council ordinances in 2002 to down-zone 13,000 acres within the Preserve. In 2002 when I held office, the Arizona State Land Commissioner signed the zoning agreement... Yes, “WE” together rezoned “open space,” 20.3 square miles. I always praise us as “WE” did it.
Secondly, R.L. Whitmer should go to KeepSedonaBeautiful.org to read about the exploits of his zoning attorney candidate Lisa Borowsky.
Did Lisa Borowsky think that preservation-conscious Scottsdale voters would not notice Borowsky Spring Creek Ranch in Cornville? Lisa Borowsky is vice president of Spring Creek Ranch Holdings.
Also note that R.L. Whitmer is the owner of website StandUpForScottsdale.com, which is Lisa Borowsky’s official website. Whitmer just came out of the shadows.
My opposition to SouthBridge Two is well documented.
R.L. Whitmer is owner of the Fulcrum Group, the paid consultant for the referendum. I volunteered, signed and was busy carrying the referendum petition.
Whitmer himself carried the petition, but could not get Lisa Borowsky to sign it.
Lisa Borowsky refused to join 17,115 voters to overturn SouthBridge. So late, on March 5, seven months, after I testified at the Planning Commission, she stated “SouthBridge was over the top” in published news reports.
Lastly, in 2020, two years and four months after an error card was destroyed, Whitmer working for Lisa Borowsky, in concert with Jason Rose/Rose to Rise PAC, spent tens of thousands (attack ads) about an error card.
The card printed by the City of Scottsdale shows city telephone and fax numbers area code (602) was printed two years after Scottsdale area code was changed to (480).
The Scottsdale Progress in September 2000, carried the story headline which reads: CARD: City attorney says it was an honest mistake.
Ms. Borowsky working with Whitmer and Jason Rose/Rose to Rise PAC are dead wrong. I have one remaining collector edition, error card to prove it.
Imagine, with the COVID-19 crisis, distressed financial revenues, businesses suffering, tourism down Lisa Borowsky uses Whitmer to concoct such tales.
I encourage voters to see my positive goals as mayor of Scottsdale plan at ElectDaveOrtegaMayor.com. I will gladly post the Scottsdale Progress Article and error card there. Avoid the pointless distractions.
Editor’s Note: Dave Ortega is a candidate for Scottsdale mayor in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election.
