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Even in a pandemic, Scottsdale politicians are spending big to help secure seats in the general election.
Scottsdale’s political candidates, who hope to be elected Nov. 3, are raising (and spending) big bucks with their campaigns this year, despite COVID-19 essentially canceling major events and opportunities to interact with constituents.
The latest campaign finance reports, filed in July, show candidates spent tens of thousands of dollars to win the title of mayor.
Since the Aug. 4 primary election, the race has narrowed from nine people seeking a spot on City Council to six candidates for three open seats.
Moreover, the race for Scottsdale mayor narrowed from five candidates to two: Dave Ortega and Lisa Borowsky.
Campaign finance reports are maintained by Scottsdale City Clerk Carolyn Jagger. They require candidates disclose where their campaign money comes from, what it’s being spent on and how much is in their coffer.
Candidates are only required to disclose the names of individual contributers who give more than $50.
The most recent campaign finance reports available are pre-election documents covering July 1-18, just before the primary election.
Candidates will be required to submit their third-quarter 2020 report by Oct. 15, which covers July 19 through Sept. 30.
Lisa Borowsky
During the July pre-election reporting period, mayoral candidate Ms. Borowsky was given $5,430 in individual contributions and has loaned herself more than $25,000, the reports show.
Throughout the campaign, Ms. Borowsky has reported nearly $42,000 in personal loans to herself.
She spent $33,695 on operating expenses for July, which included advertising, political consulting and paying credit card fees.
Ms. Borowksy spent $83,307 through July, the report shows. Her advertising and credit card fees account for many expenditures, including using Scottsdale-based Sneaky Big Studios; Cox Media and Facebook.
Ms. Borowsky’s political contributions came from 17 donations, ranging from $100 up to $1,000, from Will Cutter, president of Cutter Aviation.
Throughout her campaign, Ms. Borowsky has raised $43,780, her report shows.
Dave Ortega
Mr. Ortega’s pre-election campaign finance report shows he received $8,500 in individual contributions during this period, with a cumulative amount of $13,550 for the election cycle.
The mayoral candidate received 10 donations in July that exceed $50, which includes $2,500 from Scottsdale farmer John Garofono.
Mr. Ortega also received $3,000 from Scottsdale-based teacher Traci Dancer; and $2,000 from Paradise Valley-based Tom Silverman. The report shows Mr. Silverman has donated more than $6,000 to Mr. Ortega this election cycle.
Other donations include $150 of contributions from individuals valued less than $50.
Mr. Ortega’s operating expenses for July exceed $14,000, the report shows, and he has spent $32,649 throughout the campaign.
His July operating expenses include $8,502 to a Phoenix-based consulting firm that’s listed on Mr. Ortega’s reports as “Purple State.” In total, Mr. Ortega paid $19,399 to the consultants.
Throughout the campaign, Mr. Ortega has spent more than $10,000 on traditional advertising through I Heart Media, the Jewish News and Times Media; while $2,022 has been spent on Facebook ads.
Tammy Caputi
Tammy Caputi’s pre-election campaign finance report for her City Council campaign shows she received $8,854 in contributions:
$5,500 from political action committees;
$3,225 from individual contributions more than $50; and
$129 in contributions less than $50 from individuals.
Ms. Caputi spent $7,273 on operating expenses for her campaign during July, the report shows.
Her 10 contributions of more than $50 include $2,000 from Scott Pfeiffer, president of Sonora West Development. Her other contributions this report ranged from $50 up to $250.
This election cycle, Ms. Caputi reports receiving $57,780 in donations more than $50.
The two contributions from political action committees came from Arizona Multihousing Association PAC, $500, and Realtors of AZ PAC, $5,000.
Ms. Caputi’s expenses this period include $3,550 for a campaign video; $1,353 for print newspaper ads through Landslide Strategic Media; and $2,325 on credit card processing.
Tom Durham
City Council candidate Tom Durham reports receiving $1,785 in donations; $5,000 for a personal loan from himself; and $2,970 in joint fundraising and shared expense payments received.
During July, he also spent $11,632.
Mr. Durham’s contributions of more than $50 include $1,000 from Cathy Largay, a Scottsdale volunteer.
The shared expense on Mr. Durham’s report is from City Council Betty Janik’s campaign, Vote Janik. Ms. Janik and Mr. Durham have often teamed during this campaign. The campaign finance report labels the payment to Mr. Durham as a mailing expense.
Of the $11,632 spent in July, Mr. Durham spent $125 on advertising, his report shows, but other expenses are for mailing, printing and copying.
Betty Janik
Betty Janik received the most votes of all City Council candidates in the Scottsdale primary election and was close to reaching the threshold needed to be elected outright.
In her July pre-election report, Ms. Janik reports receiving $800 in individual donations, which came from four Scottsdale residents.
Her operating expenses were $2,254.
Her $2,208 in expenses went to print, web design and updates, advertising and marketing.
Becca Linnig
Becca Linnig received a total of $2,600 in contributions from three individuals, the pre-election report shows, including $2,000 from Scott Pfeiffer, president of Sonora West Development.
Her operating expenses added up to $77.48, comprised of processing fees, checks, and a campaign expense.
John Little
City Council candidate, and former Scottsdale city manager John Little received $14,460 during the pre-election period from donations and political action committees.
The top donors in July include $2,000 from Mr. Pfeiffer and $2,500 from local philanthropist Judd Herberger.
Political action committees Realtors of AZ gave Mr. Little $5,000 and Resolve to Win Fund gave him $1,000.
His campaign spent $7,259.14 comprised of $4,000 for campaign services to Resolve to Win Group; $2,330 for postage; $28.39 for his website; and $750 for digital advertising through Facebook.
Guy Phillips
The only incumbent in the race, Councilman Guy Phillips, received $9,080 of individual contributions, and he spent $18,864, his report shows.
Mr. Phillips’ report doesn’t separate donations under $50, so his total $9,080 in July is made up of contributions ranging from $10 to $3,000.
His two biggest contributions this period are: $3,000 from John Zanini, a Scottsdale resident, and $1,000 from Art Pearce, a retired Scottsdale resident.
His report shows the total contributions this election cycle to be $43,028.
His expenses included door hangers for $4,000; $1,956 for campaign masks and door hangers; and $10,020 for radio and television ads. On Facebook, he spent $1,001 on digital advertising.
Campaign finance issues
During this election, Mr. Phillips has been the recipient of more than one campaign finance complaint — in August he was ordered to repay $2,525, after a “technical” finance violation when his campaign accepted donations from PayPal accounts tied to Mr. Phillips’ personal business, Budget Mechanical.
In September, another campaign finance violation was filed by resident Mike Norton alleging Mr. Phillips accepted a donation from Michael Simonson for $8,600 during his second-quarter campaign finance reports.
Candidates are legally allowed to accept donations up to $6,450 from each individual.
On Sept. 20, Mr. Phillips sent Ms. Jagger an amended second-quarter report.
In his email, Mr. Phillips states, “I noticed that I didn’t break up the contribution from the Simonson family. This has now been addressed in the amended return.”
The following day, Ms. Jagger dismissed the complaint stating Michael and Cynthia Simonson each gave $4,300 to Mr. Phillips’ campaign.
In response to Mr. Norton’s complaint, Ms. Jagger says it is not unusual for candidates to make errors in their reports, and the appropriate way to correct them is by filing an amended report.
“The complaint alleged that the Committee accepted a contribution in excess of the contribution limits,” Ms. Jagger said in an email to Mr. Norton and fellow resident Jason Alexander, regarding the issue. “The Committee’s amended report shows that the Committee did not accept a contribution in excess of the contribution limits; therefore, there is no violation and no reasonable cause determination can be made.”
Mr. Phillips told the Independent he hopes Scottsdale voters see through what he views as an “underhanded attempt” to disparage him so other candidates win. He singled out Mr. Norton, Mr. Alexander and Mark Alan Greenburg, who filed the August campaign finance complaint.
Mr. Phillips says the trio is pushing “big development” candidates.
Melissa Rosequist Managing Editor | East Valley @mrosequist_
I first started my journalism portfolio at the age of 15 while in high school before going on to study at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Being in the journalism field is the only professional avenue I was ever interested in, and have worked hard covering topics from school boards to hard news while working for the Independent, where I have been awarded for my reporting.
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