Graham, Ugenti-Rita on track to win Scottsdale council seats
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Councilmember Barry Graham and former state lawmaker Michelle Ugenti-Rita are poised to win Scottsdale's two remaining City Council seats after civic leader Raoul Zubia conceded late Thursday.
Why it matters: The concession settles a crowded council election that began with eight candidates competing for three seats.
Driving the news: Graham and Ugenti-Rita had 33% of the vote, and Zubia had 32%, according to unofficial returns from the county as of Thursday at 8:34pm.
- Zubia secured about 2,300 fewer votes than the two leading candidates. He conceded in a Facebook post.
- According to the city charter, the candidates with the most votes win.
State of play: Graham, who returns to the council for a second term, and Ugenti-Rita, a former state legislator, ran together on a conservative platform
- Both raised concerns during the campaign about outside influence in Scottsdale politics and opposed the apartment component of Axon's headquarters development.
Zoom in: Graham, a certified public accountant, has served on the council since 2023.
- He's questioned Scottsdale's continued use of Flock license plate-reading cameras, saying residents' privacy should outweigh the benefits of constant surveillance.
Ugenti-Rita served Scottsdale for 12 years in the Arizona Legislature before seeking a council seat.
- She campaigned as a conservative focused on limiting high-density development, protecting Scottsdale's water supply and keeping taxes low.
Flashback: Ugenti-Rita finished second overall in the July primary, behind Councilmember Solange Whitehead, who won reelection outright.
- Graham finished third and Zubia fifth.
- Former Councilmember Bob Littlefield also advanced but later withdrew, leaving three candidates for the final two seats.
What's next: Graham, Ugenti-Rita and Whitehead will begin their four-year terms in January.