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Heath: Partisan political pillow talk extends to the Scottsdale ballot

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I received an announcement from Bob Littlefield last week exclaiming that he was officially on the ballot for mayor of Scottsdale.

To me, it felt like watching the shark from Jaws about to swallow the city.

Although that looks strangely entertaining on a movie poster, do we really want Bob and his wife, Kathy Littlefield, to devour over 20% of the City Council?

There appears to be significant opposition to that notion according to a poll cited in an op-ed in the “Arizona Progress & Gazette” under the headline “Two Littlefields Too Much” (which I encourage you to read).

When surveyed, 71% of like Scottsdale voters agreed with the following statement: “Kathy Littlefield currently serves as Scottsdale’s vice mayor. Having her husband Bob Littlefield serve as mayor at the same time would be unprecedented in Scottsdale history and unwise because of the legal issues and conflict of interest violations that could occur.”

Results from the survey were parsed further from there. North, south and central Scottsdale, few residents support the proposition of a husband and wife serving on the City Council together. Geographically, demographically or politically it doesn’t poll well, including among Bob Littlefield’s supporters.

Frankly, I can’t believe the City Charter permits it!

It is a form of nepotism, and there are rules against nepotism in politics for good reason.

We prefer council members to be free thinkers who look out for the best interests of the city and its constituents, rather than candidates who would be joined in a partisan marital voting-block.

With their united vote, Kathy and Bob Littlefield would be halfway towards taking Scottsdale down a path from which we may never recover.

Prejudice is a form of bigotry. And it’s easy to conclude the Littlefields despise growth and developers. Intolerance against business in municipal politics often results in negative consequences like higher taxes.

I find it hard to believe in a city of 255,000 that we can’t find two better candidates for council than a husband and wife who are laying their heads down beside each other at night, and then brushing their teeth together in the morning.

Imagine if there’s divorce!

I respectfully request the Scottsdale City Council consider a Charter Amendment prohibiting immediate family members from serving on the council together. If you prefer a Citizens Petition to formalize that request, one can be easily rendered.

Editor’s Note: Larry Heath is a Scottsdale resident.