Zubia Holds His Ground as Opponents Move in Lockstep on Water-Denialism
SCOTTSDALE - At yesterday's Arizona Republic debate, Raoul Zubia faced down two opponents running as a ticket and sharing one message on water: Scottsdale is fine, and apartments are apparently the problem.
Two candidates, one script: Councilmember Barry Graham said Scottsdale doesn’t have a water crisis, only an apartment crisis. Running mate and Rob Schneider acolyte, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, also argued that dense apartments suck up water resources. Both say the city’s supply is secure.
Zubia brought the facts: The Colorado River supplies 70% of Scottsdale’s drinking water, and cuts are coming. “We are running out of cheap water, and we need to find a way to keep the water we have, and that is through recycling and other projects,” Zubia said. His opponents called advanced water purification “toilet to tap,” and Ugenti-Rita described it as injecting sewage into drinking water. That's blatantly false. A Sept. 22 presentation to the City Council also showed apartments and condos use far less water than single-family homes. When moderator Taylor Seeley pressed Graham, he said the city used the wrong metric.
Zubia pushed back on the pro-development label: Dismantling his opponents' lies, Zubia He said multi-family housing should be capped at four stories and fit the surrounding neighborhoods. “Just because we can build doesn’t mean we should,” he said.
Civility versus digging in: Zubia said he would work with people he disagrees with to deliver for residents. Graham said residents “don’t elect us to go along to get along.”
"Zubia is offering results. His opponents are offering soundbites," said Zubia spokesperson Matt Grodsky. "Voters have a clear choice: Common sense and civility with Zubia, or gaslighting and grievance with Graham and Ugenti-Rita."
ABOUT RAOUL ZUBIA:
Raoul Zubia is a lifelong resident of Scottsdale, a proud graduate of Coronado High School, and a candidate for Scottsdale City Council. Raoul is running to secure our water, defend our neighborhoods, protect our Preserve, and restore respect to City Council. Raoul believes that Scottsdale deserves leaders who listen, work together, and focus on results. He is deeply concerned about the Council’s direction. Councilmember Barry Graham’s vote to cut vital water resources and put political infighting ahead of solutions is not what Scottsdale deserves. Raoul knows that residents are tired of the drama and feeling unheard. They deserve leaders who listen and solve problems. He is ready to bring results-driven leadership back to City Hall.
