OPINION — Michelle Ugenti-Rita is running for Scottsdale City Council, which makes this a good time to revisit her stance on local control.
As a state representative, Ugenti sponsored legislation forcing municipalities to consolidate their local elections with state and federal election dates. Cities and towns strongly objected, arguing that the mandate diminished local control and risked burying municipal issues beneath partisan state and national politics.
Ugenti-Rita was not exactly coy about the political implications. She called the legislation an “anti-union bill” and acknowledged it might result in more conservative candidates winning municipal elections.
