Scottsdale Voters Hear Directly from Bob Littlefield and Raoul Zubia
With Scottsdale’s primary election approaching, voters have an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates seeking a seat on City Council. On this episode of the Scottsdale Vibes Podcast, host Alicia Haygood welcomed candidates Raoul Zubia and Bob Littlefield for separate interviews focused on some of the city’s most pressing issues.
Each candidate answered the same questions about growth, tourism, housing, water resources, government transparency, and the future of Scottsdale.
Balancing Tourism and Quality of Life
Tourism remains one of Scottsdale’s largest economic drivers, bringing visitors to events such as the WM Phoenix Open, Barrett-Jackson, Spring Training, and Parada del Sol.
Raoul Zubia’s Perspective
Zubia emphasized that tourism is essential to Scottsdale’s identity and economy but believes residents should play a larger role in shaping how tourism impacts neighborhoods.
He advocated for collaboration between residents, businesses, and city leaders to maintain Scottsdale’s tourism success while ensuring neighborhoods remain safe, peaceful, and livable.
Bob Littlefield’s Perspective
Littlefield pointed to short-term rentals as a primary concern rather than tourism itself.
He argued that Scottsdale successfully balanced tourism and residential life for decades before the rapid growth of vacation rental properties and believes stronger local control is needed to address neighborhood impacts.
Growth, Housing, and Development
One of Scottsdale’s most debated topics continues to be residential development and housing density.
Raoul Zubia’s Position
Zubia supports responsible and strategic growth that aligns with Scottsdale’s General Plan and neighborhood character.
He expressed concerns about increasing building heights and suggested maintaining lower-density development, particularly in and around Old Town Scottsdale.
Bob Littlefield’s Position
Littlefield identified overdevelopment as Scottsdale’s biggest challenge.
He believes city leaders have allowed developers to dictate growth patterns and argues that many projects marketed as workforce housing ultimately become luxury developments. His focus remains on preserving neighborhood character and preventing excessive density.
Local Control vs. State Government
Both candidates expressed concerns about Arizona state laws limiting Scottsdale’s authority over issues such as short-term rentals, zoning, and housing policies.
Zubia
Zubia believes local governments understand their communities better than state lawmakers and supports returning more decision-making power to Scottsdale.
Littlefield
Littlefield argued Scottsdale should more aggressively exercise its rights as a charter city and challenge state overreach when local priorities are threatened.
Water Security and Infrastructure
Water remains a critical issue throughout Arizona, and Scottsdale is investing heavily in long-term infrastructure and sustainability projects.
Raoul Zubia
Zubia emphasized the importance of keeping major water infrastructure projects on a clear timeline and funding schedule. He expressed concerns that delaying projects today could result in much higher costs for residents in the future.
Bob Littlefield
Littlefield supported the City’s recent water and sewer rate increases as reasonable responses to rising infrastructure costs. However, he believes overdevelopment remains the underlying challenge that places additional pressure on Scottsdale’s resources.
Rebuilding Trust in City Hall
Transparency and resident involvement were recurring themes throughout both interviews.
Zubia
Zubia believes residents are not being adequately heard during the decision-making process. He pledged to increase citizen participation and improve opportunities for public feedback.
Littlefield
Littlefield emphasized accountability and transparency, arguing that elected officials should clearly communicate their positions and remain consistent with campaign promises.
Why These Conversations Matter
City Council decisions affect everything from neighborhood development and water resources to public safety and quality of life. Whether voters prioritize growth management, local control, infrastructure planning, or resident engagement, this election will help shape Scottsdale’s future for years to come.
As Alicia reminded listeners throughout the episode, one message remains clear:
Get informed. Get involved. And most importantly, vote.
Listen to the Full Episode
Hear directly from both candidates and learn more about their vision for Scottsdale by listening to this episode of the Scottsdale Vibes Podcast.