Candidates dispute Scottsdale council’s openness

For incumbents, the Scottsdale city government is an open and transparent one that has made the right choices.

But Scottsdale City Council challengers paint a different picture.

Six council candidates vying for three open seats squared off in a one-hour Tribune debate Thursday, touching on issues ranging from open government to high-rise downtown proposals and the future of south Scottsdale.

In the Sept. 2 election, council members Ron McCullagh and Betty Drake and challenger Suzanne Klapp were the top three finishers. Lisa Borowsky was fourth, followed by Nan Nesvig and Tom Giller.

The top three finishers Nov. 4 will win the three seats.

There was disagreement over how open and transparent Scottsdale city government is, which has been a campaign theme of some candidates.

Drake said that reputation is spread by some council members and candidates.

She said there has been a decline in closed meetings, and the city’s Web site includes meeting clips and other information that hold elected leaders accountable.

McCullagh pointed to the fact that all city documents, including budget-related-ones, are online.

But Nesvig said some closed sessions do not adhere to the guidelines, issues are decided ahead of time and there is not proper public outreach.

Borowsky said there is a perception that the city is not open, and there is a lot of back-door politics and preferential treatment.

Many candidates agreed that south Scottsdale auto dealers may not be in place for the long term.

Klapp said she would encourage a goal of creating a technology corridor along McDowell Road, as well as making entrances inviting.

Others criticized the lack of retail establishments.

“The best thing to happen to south Scottsdale is Tempe Marketplace,” Giller said.

Borowsky said it was time to “roll out the red carpet” to businesses, while Drake said the south should take better advantage of Papago Park. McCullagh, who along with Drake supported the SkySong technology campus, said it was the right decision for the area.

When the issue turned to downtown projects that would add increased height and density, there were some differences but Giller and Nesvig — both of whom have fought taller downtown buildings — did not express a blanket opposition to new, taller buildings.

There was unanimous agreement among the candidates to support a Scottsdale Healthcare 120-foot hospital tower at the Osborn campus downtown.

Debate replay
• Sunday and Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Channel 11.