By J. Graber | Scottsdale Progress
The seven candidates running for three open City Council seats got what may be their last chance July 20 to differentiate themselves before the Primary Election during a 90-minute debate at DC Ranch.
Approximately 100 people turned out for the event sponsored by DC Ranch, the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, Scottsdale Vibes and the Scottsdale Progress. The forum can be viewed at scottsdalechamber.com.
All seven candidates – Pamela Carter, Barry Graham, Daniel Ishac, Kathy Littlefield, Tim Stratton, Solange Whitehead and Raoul Zubia participated in the forum.
Littlefield and Whitehead are running for re-election while there is also an open seat being vacated by Councilwoman Linda Milhaven, who is termed-out.
Here are some highlights from the forum.
If elected to city council, what would you do to attract and retain new businesses?
Stratton favored targeting corporate headquarters’ relocation here while Zubia warning the city’s inability to provide for attainable housing could be a major stumbling block.
Littlefield said promoting tourism is essential because visitors “come and they say, ‘This is where I want to plant my business. This is where I want to grow.’”
Whitehead added, “Continuing to invest in that is what attracts high technology companies in particular.”
Carter said that as the former owner of “the largest sports medicine and weight training facility in the nation…I do know it’s possible to attract businesses here and have them thrive.”
Ishac stressed the importance of “making sure we’re the city that attracted all of us to be here.”
