“As election day nears, Scottsdale City Council candidate Tammy Caputi makes an attempt to reach voters on both sides of a divided city.
In an effort to reach all of Scottsdale’s community, Ms. Caputi says she is not for one side, or the other; and ensures her mind is not made up ahead of time.”
— Melissa Rosequist, Scottsdale Independent
In your final message to Scottsdale voters, what would you like to say? What are the most important points you want voters to consider as they fill out their ballot?
Scottsdale City Council is a nonpartisan race. If elected to city council, I will not be a Republican or a Democratic council member, a pro-growth or a no-growth council member; I will be a Scottsdale council member.
I do not have my mind made up ahead of time. I will make fact- based, thoughtful decisions. I will strive for consensus and collaboration with the rest of the council, and with all the stakeholders in our city.
As a three-year member of our Development Review Board, I have a track record of doing this. I believe in my message and vision for Scottsdale; that’s why I’ve invested heavily in my own campaign (by a factor of 20 compared to my other donors). I am an independent thinker, beholden to no special interests.
Scottsdale is a Golden Rule City. Our fundamental values of kindness, empathy, respect and civility need to be more than just words buried deep inside the city’s website; we need leaders who embody these ideals. At a time of great national strife, it’s vital that we lead at the local level, where ideals meet pragmatism.
Several of my challengers are increasing divisiveness by only listening to a narrow group and antagonizing everyone else. They are encouraging an “us vs. them” mentality around relationships with local businesses or partisan politics.
We need our business community, without which we can’t maintain our quality of life and open spaces; without sales tax revenue, we can’t pay for our Preserve. We are an ecosystem, with the sum of the parts being greater than the whole. We have a winning formula: high amenities, strong property values and schools, and low property taxes.
It’s a healthy balance we need to maintain. Rejecting Scottsdale’s 18,000 businesses and 200,000 employees and appealing to only one section of the electorate is not how we come together as a community.
My campaign is a big tent, with over 400 donors. I’m proud of the wide and deep support I’ve received for being a positive, forward-thinking voice for our city. Supporters respond to my platform of economic vitality, balancing our business hubs with our preserve and neighborhoods, getting people back to work and our kids back to school, and my endorsements from police and fire.
People who are most invested in our city, from residents to business owners to first responders and everyone in between, have given a clear message of support for my campaign. Thank you to everyone who has helped. Working together is how we will make Scottsdale even better for the next generation of residents.
After this election, we all must sit together, roll up our sleeves and deal with a public health crisis. Our tourism industry is decimated, many businesses are still shuttered or struggling, and my kids are still doing school from our kitchen table.
We need leaders who are not ideological or driven by a single issue, but creative and skilled and open to negotiation — who judge each issue on its own merit, in the context of its surroundings, and make the best decisions for the good of our city. Leaders who can solve the problems we are facing today and prepare us for tomorrow. Leaders who have solid working relationships with people from all corners of our community and beyond. Leaders who can work as a team to bring Scottsdale forward to a better, brighter future. We have an opportunity to build back more prosperous, more prepared, and better for everyone.
I’ve spent the past 20 years building a successful business and raising a family in Scottsdale. I have been involved in my children’s schools, my faith community, and various civic groups. I donated my time for three years serving on our Development Review Board, maintaining the quality of development in our city. I want Scottsdale to be even better for my kids than it’s been for me.
I’ve spent a year campaigning tirelessly to be a positive, forward- thinking voice on our city council. We need leaders who can bring all parts of our community together. I am ready to serve and I would be honored for your vote.
