Scottsdale expecting high voter turnout despite change in dates
By Curtis Riggs | July 9, 2008
COPP candidate forum July 17
SCOTTSDALE – City officials are expecting business as usual for this year’s municipal elections despite their move from spring to fall for the first time.
The primary elections with three candidates for mayor and eight candidates competing for four open City Council seats will be held on Sept. 2. Runoff elections for the mayor and city council seats, if necessary, will be held in the November 4 general election.
In the past, municipal elections in Scottsdale were held in March and May of even numbered years. Scottsdale voters will get one of their first looks at the candidates in a Coalition of Pinnacle Peak (COPP) forum at the Legend Trail Community Center on Thursday, July 17 at 7 p.m.
Scottsdale City Clerk Carolyn Jagger expects high voter turnout this fall because the Scottsdale election will be held at the same time as state and national elections.
“When you look historically throughout Maricopa County you will find that turnout is higher with September and November elections,” she said. “I think we will have high voter turnout because the voters are intelligent and do a good job.”
COPP Vice President Linda Whitehead said traffic, building height and densities and the “future direction of Scottsdale” will be discussed at the July 17 forum.
“There is always a great deal of interest in Scottsdale City Council elections,” she said. In the race for mayor first-term City Councilman Jim Lane will be seeking to unseat two-term Mayor Mary Manross. John Washington is a write-in candidate for mayor.
Council incumbents Betty Drake and Ron McCullagh will be seeking to retain their seats. The seats held by Lane and Manross will be open because they are running for mayor.
Lisa Borowsky, Joel Bramoweth, Oren Davis, Tom Giller and Suzanne Klapp and Nan Nesvig are candidates for City Council.