Scottsdale Public Library logo

Scottsdale Council History

Search city council history below by name or year.

Search or filter list of city council members by Name, Year, or Mayor

Timeline:

01/12/21
Mayor Ortega and councilmembers Caputi, Durham and Janik sworn into office.
11/02/21
Special Election: Proposition 463, which sought ratification of the Scottsdale General Plan 2035, was approved by voters. This was Scottsdale’s second election conducted entirely by mail.

Council Members:

Timeline:

08/04/2020
Primary Election (canvassed 08/24/20) no candidates elected.
11/03/2020
General Election (canvassed 11/23/20) a Mayor (David D. Ortega) and three Councilmembers were elected (Tammy Caputi, Tom Durham, and Betty Janik) and took office on 01/12/21.

Council Members:

Timeline:

01/08/2019
Councilwomen Littlefield, Milhaven, and Whitehead sworn into office.
11/05/2019
Bond Election: Three bond questions to authorize expenditures for: (1) Parks, recreation, and senior services; (2) community spaces and infrastructure; and (3) public safety and technology. All three questions were approved by the voters. This was Scottsdale’s first election conducted entirely by mail.

Council Members:

Timeline:

11/06/2017

General/Special Election (canvassed 11/26/18) three Councilmembers elected (Kathy Littlefield and Linda Milhaven re-elected and Solange Whitehead elected; sworn into office on 01/08/19).

Ballot question to increase the transaction privilege and use taxes by 0.10 percent (0.10%) for a period of ten (10) years to provide funds for transportation improvement projects was approved; amendment to the Scottsdale City Charter proposed by initiative petition to amend the city charter to prohibit the alteration of the natural state of preserve lands and limit the use of preserve funds for any purpose other than those specifically outlined in the proposed amendment unless authorized by Scottsdale registered voters at a general or special election was approved.

Council Members:

Timeline:

01/17/2017
Mayor Lane and Councilmembers Klapp, Korte, and Phillips sworn into office.

Council Members:

Timeline:

11/08/2016

General/Special Election (canvassed 11/28/16) three Councilmembers elected (Suzanne Klapp, Virginia Korte, and Guy Phillips re-elected; sworn into office 01/17/2017).

One Charter amendment to clarify that the city's primary and general elections are held concurrently with the state's primary and general elections and set the commencement date of the terms of the mayor and each member of the council to the first regular meeting of the Council in January of the year following their election was approved.

Council Members:

Timeline:

01/06/2015
New Council sworn into office
11/03/2015
Bond Election: Six bond questions. Two questions were approved by the voters (street pavement replacement and public safety-fire).

Council Members:

Timeline:

08/26/2014
Primary Election (canvassed 08/09/14) no candidates elected.
11/04/2014
General Election (canvassed 11/18/14) three Councilmembers elected (Milhaven re-elected, Kathleen Littlefield and David N. Smith elected and will take office on 01/06/15).

Council Members:

Timeline:

03/13/2012
Special Election (canvassed 03/20/12); Southwest Gas Franchise Agreement approved, General Plan not approved, and seven Charter amendments approved.
08/28/2012
Primary Election (canvassed 09/11/12); Mayor elected. (Lane re-elected).
11/06/2012
General Election (canvassed 11/26/12); three Councilmembers elected. (Klapp re-elected; Korte and Phillips elected and will take office on 01/08/13).

Council Members:

Timeline:

01/11/2011
Councilmembers Littlefield, Milhaven, and Robbins sworn into office.

Council Members:

Timeline:

03/09/2010
Special Election for the purpose of increasing the bed tax from 3 to 5% and submitting five Charter amendments to the voters. All six measures were approved by the voters (canvassed 03/23/10).
05/26/2010
Councilman Tony Nelssen passed away
06/22/2010
Marg Nelssen appointed to fill Councilman Nelssen's term
08/24/2010
Primary Election cancelled
11/02/2010
General/Special Election (canvassed 11/16/10); three Councilmembers elected (Littlefield re-elected, Milhaven and Robbins elected and will take office on 01/11/11). Special Bond and Charter Amendment Election held in conjunction with General Election; two bond questions not approved, six Charter amendments approved, and one Charter amendment not approved.

Council Members:

Timeline:

01/13/2009
Mayor and three Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

09/02/2008
General Election (canvasssed 09/16/08); no candidates elected
11/04/2008
Runoff Election (canvassed 11/24/08) Mayor (W.J. "Jim" Lane) and three Councilmembers (incumbent Ron McCullagh and new Councilmembers Lisa Borowsky and Suzanne Klapp) elected

Council Members:

Timeline:

03/14/2006
General Election (canvassed 03/28/06); two Councilmembers elected
05/16/2006
Runoff Election (canvassed 05/23/06); one Councilmember elected
06/06/2006
Council sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

03/09/2004
General Election (canvassed 03/16/04); one Councilmember elected
05/18/2004
Runoff Election (canvassed 05/26/04); Mayor and three Councilmembers elected; Kevin Osterman elected to a two-year term to complete Cynthia Lukas' unexpired term.
06/08/2004
Council sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

05/20/2003
Special Election for two propositions: Initiative to amend the Charter to create a Fire Department and an Initiative to amend the Scottsdale Revised Code to establish a Fire Department. Both propositions were rejected by the voters.
10/24/2003
Councilwoman Lukas resigned to run for Mayor
11/17/2003
Councilwoman Pilcher appointed

Council Members:

Timeline:

03/12/2002
General Election (canvassed 03/18/02); two Councilmembers elected
05/21/2002
Runoff Election (canvassed 05/28/02); one Councilmember elected
06/03/2002
Council sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

03/14/2000
General Election (canvassed 03/28/00); one Councilmember elected
05/16/2000
Runoff Election (canvassed 05/23/00); Mayor and two Councilmember elected
06/05/2000
Council sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

03/10/1998
General Election (canvassed 03/16/98); one Councilmember elected
05/19/1998
Runoff Election (canvassed 06/01/98); two Councilmembers elected
06/01/1998
Three Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/20/1996
Primary Election (canvassed 03/04/96); one Councilmember elected
03/26/1996
General Election (canvassed 04/01/96); Mayor and two Councilmembers elected
04/02/1996
Mayor and three Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/15/1994
Primary Election (canvassed 02/28/94); two Councilmembers elected
03/22/1994
General Election (canvassed 04/04/94); one Councilmember elected
04/05/1994
Three Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/18/1992
Primary Election (canvassed 02/25/92); Mayor elected
03/24/1992
General Election (canvassed 04/06/92); three Councilmembers elected
04/07/1992
Mayor and three Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/20/1990
Primary Election (canvassed 02/26/90); two Councilmembers elected
03/27/1990
General Election held (canvassed 04/02/90); one Councilmember elected
04/03/1990
Three Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/16/1988
Primary Election (canvassed 02/22/88) Mayor and one Councilmember elected at the Primary
03/22/1988
General Election (canvassed 04/04/88); two Councilmembers elected
04/05/1988
Mayor and three Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/18/1986
Primary/Special Bond Election (Primary Election canvassed 02/24/86, Special Election canvassed 03/03/86); issuance of $38.0M in General Obligation bonds to purchase, make improvements, extensions, additions, renewals, replacements, and repairs to the existing City of Phoenix water system within the City of Scottsdale approved 7,897 to 2,384
03/25/1986
General Election (canvassed 03/31/86); three Councilmembers elected
04/01/1986
Three Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/21/1984
Primary Election (canvassed 02/27/84); Mayor and two Councilmembers elected
03/27/1984
General Election (canvassed 04/02/84); one Councilmember elected
04/03/1984
Mayor and three Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/16/1982
Primary/Special Election (canvassed 02/22/82); two Councilmembers elected; four Charter amendment propositions were approved, two were not approved
03/23/1982
General Election (canvassed 03/29/82); one Councilmember elected
04/06/1982
Three Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/19/1980
Primary Election (canvassed 02/25/80); Mayor and three Councilmembers elected
04/01/1980
Mayor and three Councilmembers sworn into office
06/10/1980
Special APS Electric and Gas Franchise Election (canvassed 06/16/80); franchise granted 176 to 13

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/21/1978
Primary Election (canvassed 02/27/78); three Councilmembers elected
04/04/1978
Three Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

05/10/1977
Special Election for 2% bed tax, passed 1,654 to 313 (canvassed 05/16/77)

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/17/1976
Primary Election (canvassed 02/23/76); Mayor and three Councilmemebers elected
04/06/1976
Mayor and three Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/19/1974
Primary Election (canvassed 02/25/74); three Councilmembers elected
04/06/1974
Three Councilmembers sworn into office
07/11/1974
Mayor Tims resigned
07/16/1974
Councilmembern Jenkins appointed Mayor Pro Tem
07/18/1974
Mayor Pro Tem Jenkins appointed Mayor; Councilmember Smith appointed to complete Mayor Jenkins' Council term

Council Members:

Timeline:

04/10/1973
Special Election to consider seven Charter amendments, the issuance of General Obligation bonds for flood control, and the issuance of Revenue bonds for utilities; all nine propositions approved (canvassed 04/16/73)

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/22/197
Primary Election (canvassed 02/28/72); Mayor and three Councilmembers elected
04/04/1972
Mayor and three Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

10/19/1971
Councilmamember Murray resigned, when the State Attorney General determined there was a conflict between his position on the Council and his job with the Department of Corrections.
11/01/1971
Councilmember Messinger appointed

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/17/1970
Primary Election (canvassed 02/23/70, official resolution adopted 03/03/70); two Councilmembers elected.
03/24/1970
General Election (canvassed 03/30/70); one Councilmember elected
04/07/1970
Three Councilmembers sworn into office
07/15/1970
Councilmember Jones resigned; Special Bond Election to: (1) authorize the issuance of $3.0M in Water Revenue Bonds, passed 788 to 162; and (2) authorize the purchase of Indian Bend Water Company; approved 799 to 151 (canvassed 07/20/70).
07/21/1970
Councilmember Campana appointed to fill the unexpired term of Robert Jones.
12/15/1970
Special Election to increase the transaction privilege tax; not approved 3,190 to 7,582 (canvassed 12/21/70).

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/20/1968
Primary Election (canvassed 02/26/68); Mayor and six Councilmembers elected to staggered two-year and four-year terms, as required by the Charter. Councilmembers Johnson, McCauley, and Senini received two-year terms; Mayor Tims and Councilmembers Jenkins, Jones, and Murray received four-year terms.
04/02/1968
Mayor and Council sworn into office
09/03/1968
Councilmember McCauley's resignation accepted (effective 08/30/68); Councilmember Hink appointed

Council Members:

Timeline:

11/07/1967
Special Eection for six Charter amendments; all six questions approved (canvassed 11/13/67)

Council Members:

Timeline:

01/04/1966
Councilmember Johnson criticized the public address system
01/06/1966
Councilmember Tims was appointed Mayor due to the untimely death of Mayor Clayton, at which time the Council also appointed Councilmember Murray to fill Mayor Tims' unexpired Council term. At this meeting, newly appointed Mayor Tims stated that he was withdrawing his name from 02/15/66 Primary Election ballot as a Council candidate, and would offer himself as a write-in candidate for Mayor instead.
02/15/1966
Primary Election (canvassed 03/01/66); Mayor and four Councilmembers elected
03/22/1966
General Election (canvassed 03/28/66); two Councilmembers elected
04/05/1966
Mayor and six Councilmembers sworn into office
09/27/1966
Special Bond Election for construction of the City Hall and Library; approved 3,608 to 1,874 (canvassed 10/10/66)

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/18/1964
Primary Election (canvassed 02/25/64)
03/24/1964
General Election (canvassed 03/31/66)
04/05/1964
Mayor and six Councilmembers sworn into office
09/29/1964
A Special Council Meeting was held for the purpose of considering the resignation of two city officials. Mayor Woudenberg resigned, citing pressures of his business. A reporter from the Scottsdale Progress was permitted to read a series of prepared questions to which the Council responded. Planning Commissioner Tilton Keefe resigned at the same meeting.
10/20/1964
Councilmember Clayton appointed Mayor; Councilmember Auxier appointed

Council Members:

Timeline:

06/18/1963
Councilmember Meacham resigned because he was transferring out of the City; Councilman Felke appointed
09/03/1963
Councilmember Felke resigned due to too many conflicts of interest between his office and his occupation
10/01/1963
Councilmember Reuss appointed
10/29/1963
Special Bond Election for sewer system improvement revenue bonds in the principal amount of $7.5M; approved 1,409 to 232 (canvassed 11/12/63)

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/20/1962
Primary Election (canvassed 02/26/62)
03/22/1962
General Election (canvassed 04/02/62); Mayor and six Councilmembers elected under the new Charter
04/03/1962
Mayor and six Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/21/1961
Primary Election (canvassed 02/27/61)
03/28/1961
General Election (canvassed 04/03/61)
04/04/1961
Three Councilmembers sworn into office
04/17/1961
The City reverted back to a common law City because the first Charter election was ruled invalid by the Courts. As a result, at the 04/17/61 Council meeting, former Councilmembers Moya Kelley, E.G. Scott, John Pickrell, and Robert Hutchins returned and resigned one at a time, and, respectively, the newly-elected Councilmembers Arthur Petersen, John Knudsen, C.W. “Bill” Clayton, and William J. Flanigan were appointed to succeed them. Before tendering his resignation, Councilmember Pickrell asked to go on record as opposing the Heinrick Thiele water survey because he did not believe it was a logical or appropriate expenditure with the City being short of finances. Councilmembers Kelley and Schrader also voiced objections before tendering their resignations. The "new" Councilmembers were sworn into office at the same meeting.
06/12/1961
Second Freeholder Election held (canvassed 06/20/61)
09/05/1961
Acting as a Charter Commission, the City's second Board of Freeholders submitted the City's second Charter
10/31/1961
Special Charter Election (approved 209 to 60)
11/16/1961
Second Charter was approved by Governor Paul Fannin

Board of Freeholders:

Charles Christakis - Chairman, Daniel Weisberger - Vice-Chairman, Robert D. Gruntz - Secretary, Donald H. Collar, John Cummings, Harry Hyder, John A. LaSota, John H. Matthews, Sam R. Russell, Thomas A. Sams, Jr., Gailaen G. Scott, Andy Segedy, Elmer L. Smith, Malcolm S. White

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/16/1960
Councilmember Bratzel resigned; Councilmember Kelley appointed
02/23/1960
Special Charter Election (approved 240 to 47)
03/07/1960
Scottsdale's first Charter was approved by Governor Paul Fannin, but later ruled invalid by the Courts
04/19/1960
Primary Election (canvassed 04/25/60); Mayor and four Councilmembers elected
05/24/1960
General Election (canvassed 05/31/60); two Councilmembers elected
06/14/1960
Mayor and six Councilmembers sworn into office. As required by the new Charter to stagger the initial Council terms, Kimsey, Knudsen, Marron, and Schrader received two-year terms; Kelley, Pickrell, and Smith received one-year terms.
09/20/1960
Councilmembern Smith resigned during the 09/20/60 Council meeting, after casting the single vote against expanding the City Sewer System
10/20/1960
Councilmember Hutchins appointed

Council Members:

Timeline:

01/20/1959
Voters approved ballot question to allow the Town to assume City organization, and all rights, powers, and authorities of a city under the name of the Town of Scottsdale
07/07/1959
Councilmember Cavalliere resigned; Councilmember Marron appointed
09/01/1959
Councilmember Stroup resigned; Councilmember Pickrell appointed
09/23/1959
City's first Special Charter and Freeholder Election (canvassed 09/29/59)
12/15/1959
Councilmember Matthews resigned;
12/22/1959
Board of Freeholders, acting as a Charter Commission, submitted the City's first Charter

Board of Freeholders:

  • Charles W. Clayton, Chairman
  • William Manghelli, Secretary
  • James H. Boyd
  • Harold E. Hassom
  • Virgil L. Hill
  • Harold R. Kennedy
  • John M. Maas
  • Charles N. Ronan
  • Austin G. Smith
  • Chester A. Smith
  • George Song
  • Byron Walker
  • Daniel Weisberger
  • Malcolm S. White

Council Members:

Timeline:

02/27/1958

Councilmember Willmoth resigned; Councilmember Brown appointed.

Mayor White reported he had investigated the cost of installing automatic stop-and-go traffic lights. Estimate: approximately $800.00.

Mayor White reported after checking Scottsdale Road for parking, he felt that only parallel parking should be allowed in front of First National Bank, Lutes Scottsdale Pharmacy, Walker's Barber Shop Building and no parking in front of Brown Derby and Scottsdale Feed And Seed Store.

04/22/1958
Primary Election (canvassed 04/28/58)
05/26/1958
General Election (canvassed 06/02/58); seven Councilmembers elected to two-year terms
06/12/1958
Mayor and Council sworn into office; Councilmember Kimsey appointed Mayor
11/25/1958
Councilmember Guy resigned due to employer relocation; Councilmember Matthews appointed
12/16/1958
Special Election called for 01/20/59 to assume city organization (Resolution No. 85)

Council Members:

Timeline:

05/21/1957
Special Bond Election for sewer improvements held for the purpose of the ussuance and sale of $397,000 principal amount of Town of Scottsdale, Sanitary Sewer Improvement Bonds -- Series of 1957" and $221,000 principal amount of Town of Scottsdale, Sanitary Sewer Revenue Bonds--Series 1957; approved by voters 103 to 15. (canvassed 06/03/57)

Council Members:

Timeline:

04/17/1956
Primary Election (canvassed 04/23/56)
04/23/1956
Special Bond Election held for the purpose of submitting to the real electors of the Town of Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona the question of authorizing the Town of Scottsdale to issue and sell Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Anticipation Bonds, Series of 1956. Results were never canvassed; however, minutes of June 12, 1956 indicate authorization was given.
05/28/1956
General Election (canvassed 06/04/56); seven Councilmembers elected to two-year terms; no swearing in ceremony on record
06/06/1956
Councilmember White appointed Mayor

Council Members:

Timeline:

03/22/1955
APS Franchise Election (canvassed 03/29/55) Franchise granted by a vote of 71 to 1

Council Members:

Timeline:

03/05/1954
Councilmember Brown resigned; Councilmember Willmoth appointed
04/20/1954
Primary Election (canvassed 04/26/54)
05/24/1954
General Election (canvassed 06/01/54); seven Councilmembers elected to two-year terms
06/01/1954
Councilmembers sworn into office; Councilmember White appointed Mayor
07/27/1954
Councilmember Frederick was murdered in his home
12/16/1954
Councilmember Wasbotten appointed

Council Members:

Timeline:

07/14/1953
Councilmember Sweeney resigned
07/28/1953
Councilmember Peterson appointed
10/08/1953
Councilmember Peterson resigned; Councilmember Brown appointed

Council Members:

Timeline:

03/06/1952
Councilmembers Frederick and Shoeman were appointed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to increase the total number of Councilmembers to seven; both were subsequently elected to two-year terms at the 1952 General Election.
03/11/1952
Councilmembers Frederick and Shoeman were sworn into office
04/22/1952
Primary Election (canvassed 04/28/52)
05/26/1952
General Election (canvassed 06/02/52); seven Councilmembers elected to two-year terms
06/10/1952
Mayor and six Councilmembers sworn into office

Council Members:

Timeline:

06/25/1951
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors declared the Town of Scottsdale to be incorporated
07/02/1951
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Scottsdale's first Council: Malcolm White, Mort Kimsey, Bill Miller, E.G. Scott, and Jack Sweeney
07/03/1951
The first Council meeting of the Town of Scottsdale was held in the home of Jack Sweeney at 301 W. First Street, Scottsdale. The five-member Council, Councilmember White was appointed Mayor, and Councilmember Sweeney was appointed Clerk of the Council. The building of business buildings was discussed. Holding to the present type of western type building to maintain the present western atmosphere was decided upon.
07/20/1951
Councilmember Miller resigned from office because he was moving out of town; Councilmember Cavalliere appointed.

Council Members:


  City of Scottsdale   Website Policies   Accessibility Services   sitemap   Español