Will we learn from the last Scottsdale Unified election?
OPINION — As a taxpayer in the Scottsdale Unified School District, I hope voters will remember the lessons of the last school board election before casting their ballots for the two open seats this November.
In the previous election, three Democratic candidates campaigned on protecting our neighborhood schools. Yet after taking office, they became the driving force behind voting to close schools that our families and taxpayers have supported for decades. Many residents were left wondering how campaign promises could differ so dramatically from the decisions that followed.
Now, as this election begins, we’re seeing another troubling example. One school board candidate placed campaign signs in the public right-of-way before the date permitted under Arizona law. Thankfully, community members reported the issues and the Cities of Scottsdale and Phoenix promptly removed the signs. This is not about campaign signs, this is about character.
Campaigns are often our first glimpse into how a candidate approaches public responsibility. Respecting the law, following the rules and competing fairly are not small matters. They reflect the judgment and integrity voters should expect from those seeking public office.
Scottsdale cannot afford another election where campaign messaging says one thing while actions tell a different story. Before entrusting candidates with decisions that affect our children, teachers, neighborhood schools and millions of taxpayer dollars, we should ask whether they have demonstrated the character and accountability those responsibilities require.
Fortunately, voters have another choice. Incumbent Amy Carney and candidate Jeanne Beasley have shown that integrity is not just something to talk about. It is something to practice throughout the campaign.
This election is about more than promises. It is about character. Scottsdale deserves school board leaders who respect the law, honor their commitments and earn the public’s trust through their words and their actions.
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