City Council members in Scottsdale, Arizona are the residents' first line of defense against a variety of issues, from rising housing costs to short-term rentals. According to the Arizona Constitution and state laws, the terms of office for the mayor and council members begin at the first regular meeting of the council in January of the year following the general elections, and last for four consecutive years. Any incumbent mayor or councilmember who is not in their last year of office must resign before running for nomination or election to any salaried local, state, or federal office. However, if they are in their last year of office, they may offer to be nominated or elected without resigning.
In order to run for mayor, a sitting councilmember who is not in their last year of office must resign from office by offering to be nominated, or ninety (90) days before the primary elections, whichever comes first. This offer of nomination or election requires submitting a nomination document required by law to run for public office or making a formal public statement of candidacy. The council must then fill any vacancy within thirty-one (31) days by majority vote, including the office of mayor. If a vacancy occurs less than thirty (30) days before the deadline for submitting petitions for nomination for the primary elections, the council will appoint someone to hold office until the position is filled by election.
If a vacancy occurs more than thirty (30) days before this deadline, it will be filled for a term of four (4) years in the next regular primary election and general election if necessary. This section does not apply to municipal employees whose primary functions are to directly serve the mayor or council members. No mayor can serve more than three consecutive elected terms as mayor and no councilmember can serve more than three consecutive elected terms as a councilmember. Councilmember James Burke was elected to his first term on the Scottsdale City Council in March 1992 after having held leadership positions in medicine, community affairs and educational activities.
Councilmember Caputi is a fellow at the Arizona Flinn-Brown Center for Civic Leadership and Leadership for Change and is currently president of the Scottsdale Today and Tomorrow Coalition (SCOTT). She serves on the board of directors of Northern Trust Company of Arizona and was a member of Lions Club, Scottsdale Charros, Camelback Mental Health Foundation and Sister Cities of Scottsdale. Gregory Bielli was elected to his second term on the Scottsdale City Council in March 1994 after being a retired special education teacher. Mayor Drinkwater is currently president of both Arizona League of Cities and Towns and Arizona Municipal Water Users Association.
Councilmember Pettycrew was elected to his first term on the Scottsdale City Council in February 1994 and re-elected in March 1998. He also serves on boards such as Sister Cities of Scottsdale, Rotary Club of Scottsdale and District 8 Republican Committee. Richard Thomas was elected to his first term on the Scottsdale City Council in March 1992 and was chairman of Governor's Tourism Advisory Council of Arizona Office of Tourism. An amendment to the Constitutional Charter was approved to clarify that city's primary and general elections are held simultaneously with state's primary and general elections and set start date for terms of office for mayor and each member of council for first regular meeting in January following their election. This amendment also states that if there are more than three vacancies in office of councilmember that must be filled in an election, three candidates receiving highest number of votes will be elected for terms of four years while candidate or candidates equal in number to vacancies receiving next highest number of votes will be elected for remaining term or terms of office. The role that city councils play in local government is essential; they represent their constituents' interests while providing oversight on various issues. The Scottsdale City Council is no exception; its members have been actively involved in promoting economic vitality through community education and participation in public policy issues.
They have worked hard to ensure that residents have access to quality services while protecting their rights as citizens.
