The Scottsdale mayoral and city council primary race is on the horizon, with early voting a stone's throw away starting July 3. In the upcoming July 30 primary, three mayoral hopefuls and nine city council candidates are lined up to fight for a chance at leadership. Scottsdale residents, mark your calendar: the deadline to register to vote is July 1, with the cutoff to request an early ballot ticking down to July 19. For those opting the mail route, get those early ballots postmarked by no later than July 23, or swing by for in-person early voting available through July 26.

At the forefront of the fray for mayorship are Lisa Borowsky, Linda Milhaven, and David "Dave" Ortega. The battle for the council seats sees Tammy Caputi, Stephen H. Casares, Jan Dubauskas, Tom Durham, Mason Gates, Adam Kwasman, Justin Laos, Robert “Bob” Lettieri, and Maryann McAllen throwing their hats in the ring. Should no candidate secure a majority for their respective seats, a November 5 general election will see the top two mayoral contenders and the leading six council candidates duking it out for final victory.

Vying for voter attention alongside candidates, two significant ballot measures will be presented in the November election. These include a city proposal aimed to replace and diminish an expiring sales tax, and a debate over adjusting the city's spending limit as defined by state law. Voters with a stake or opinion on the measures can have their say for a fee, with the deadline to submit arguments to the City Clerk looming on August 7.

Those looking to brush up on the details of the proposed ballot items can peruse through informative documents provided by the city: "2025 Scottsdale 0.15% Sales Tax Questions and Answers" and "Permanent Base Adjustment Questions and Answers." It's a chance for Scottsdale’s electorate to weigh the merits and implications of a slightly lessened sales tax burden against long-term fiscal policy. As the political gears turn, more information on the candidates, ballot measures, and the whole electoral process can be found in Scottsdale.Vote. Stay informed and exercise the right that shapes our cityscape.