Virginia Korte announces bid for Scottsdale mayor

Scottsdale City Councilmember Virginia Korte has announced her bid to become the city’s next mayor.

The second-generation Arizona native with deep roots in Scottsdale launched an exploratory committee in 2018 and has been actively meeting with residents, community leaders, and business owners, according to a press release.

Many encouraged Ms. Korte to run for mayor because of her business experience, strong leadership skills and 30-year commitment to the community.

“I am running for mayor because I love this city --- its people, its past, and its potential. Its potential is where I think leadership matters,” said Ms. Korte in a prepared statement.

“To keep Scottsdale sustainable and protect our quality of life, we must work harder and smarter to compete with other communities for new businesses and high-paying jobs for our residents. That’s why it’s critical to carefully control our spending and continue investing in the city’s infrastructure to enhance our exceptional quality of life that attracts businesses and visitors.”

For over 40 years, the Korte family owned the property on the corner of Scottsdale and McDowell Roads where they operated the well-known Ray Korte Chevrolet dealership. Before selling the business in 1998, Ms. Korte was the dealer/general manager of the dealership.

She also served as the CEO of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce and was the CEO of Scottsdale Training and Rehabilitation Services, the local non-profit organization committed to serving adults with developmental disabilities.

Through these experiences and many more, Ms. Korte demonstrated a collaborative leadership style and developed a strong set of values for community service, the press release stated.

“It has been my honor to serve on the Scottsdale City Council the past seven years. Things are headed in the right direction and Mayor Lane should be commended for his leadership,” said Ms. Korte. “But we can and should do more. We cannot rely solely on our reputation for our long-term success. Other cities are starting to catch up.”

The second term councilmember said there are three key areas she thinks are essential for Scottsdale to continue to be a great place to live and work: a firm commitment to fiscal responsibility; a thoughtful and strategic approach to development; and continuing to make improvements to residents’ quality of life.

Ms. Korte’s plans include:

• Fiscal Responsibility to grow a healthy community
• Strategic height and density development
• Improve quality of life for every citizen

“Scottsdale is a great place to live, work, learn and fulfill dreams,” Ms. Korte said.

“But we need a leader with roots in Scottsdale’s history and vision for Scottsdale’s future. I would be honored to earn our citizens’ vote. I have the experience, the passion, and most importantly, the leadership --- because leadership matters.”

The co-chairs of Korte’s campaign for mayor are Ace Bailey, Jane Blacker, Jim Bruner and Paul Messinger.