Zubia — Scottsdale Independent Q&A

Name: Raoul Zubia.

Age: 66.

Position sought: Scottsdale City Council.

Employment: Retired banker.

Community involvement: As a lifelong Scottsdale resident and Coronado High graduate, service has always been part of my life. After a career in banking, I served as vice chair of the Protect and Preserve Scottsdale Task Force, the chair of the Human Services Commission and president of Partners for Paiute. I have also served with the EVIT Foundation, Charro Foundation, SUSD Foundation and Parada del Sol Committee. I remain active with Scottsdale Leadership and other organizations working to strengthen our community. I was honored to receive Scottsdale Leadership’s Hodges Award and to be inducted into the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame.

Why did you choose to run? I was born and raised in Scottsdale, and I want future generations to have the same opportunities and quality of life I was fortunate to experience. Scottsdale became one of America’s best places to live because generations of residents and leaders worked together to solve problems. I worry we are losing some of that spirit. I am running to protect our neighborhoods, manage growth responsibly, support public safety and restore professionalism to City Council.

What do you see as the biggest issue facing the community in the coming years? Water security is the biggest long-term challenge facing Scottsdale. The Colorado River is under increasing pressure, and the decisions being made today will shape our water future for decades. Scottsdale has done an excellent job planning ahead, but we cannot become complacent. We need to continue diversifying our water supply, invest in infrastructure, expand conservation and advanced water purification and make sure future growth is supported by reliable water resources.

Why do you think you are the best candidate for the position? I have deep roots in Scottsdale, decades of professional experience and a long record of community service, including working to protect our Preserve. I grew up here, built my career here and have spent years working on the issues that affect residents every day. As vice chair of the Protect and Preserve Scottsdale Task Force, chair of the Human Services Commission, and president of Partners for Paiute, I have experience bringing people together and turning ideas into results. My banking career also taught me the importance of disciplined budgeting, long-term planning and accountability.

How do you plan to address the possible cuts in Central Arizona Project water that could be coming down the road? The cuts are imminent. We all have seen the news. Scottsdale needs to prepare now rather than wait for deeper Colorado River cuts. That means continuing conservation while investing in a more diverse and resilient water portfolio. We should accelerate advanced water purification, strengthen groundwater and aquifer management, expand recycling and efficiency programs and pursue regional partnerships that create additional flexibility. We also need to carefully evaluate major infrastructure investments, including storage and projects such as improvements at Bartlett Dam, based on reliability and cost to taxpayers.

How would you enhance relations on the city council? Disagreement on City Council is healthy when it produces better decisions. It becomes a problem when personalities and politics get in the way of governing. My approach would be to do the work before meetings, talk directly with my colleagues and look for areas of agreement whenever possible. We are all elected to serve the same residents, even when we approach an issue differently. I spent my career in banking and decades serving on community boards where collaboration and professionalism were necessary to get results. I would bring that same approach to council.

There has been a noted decline in rezoning and related investment requests in Scottsdale. Do you see this as a positive or negative for the community? Scottsdale should never approve development simply for the sake of development. Projects should respect surrounding neighborhoods, contribute to our economy and be supported by appropriate infrastructure and services. At the same time, responsible private investment creates jobs, strengthens our tax base and helps keep Scottsdale economically competitive. If investment is declining because expectations are clear and poor projects are being filtered out, that can be healthy. If it is declining because the process has become unpredictable or investors believe Scottsdale is closed for business, that is a concern.