Lisa Borowsky expected to win Scottsdale’s mayoral race; David Ortega admits

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZFamily) – Incumbent Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega has given the nod to challenger Lisa Borowsky, who the Associated Press expects to win the race.

The election was a rematch from 2020, where Ortega defeated Borowsky by nearly 6,000 votes, but the tables were turned this year when the race was called for Borowsky. As of Thursday morning, the count shows Borowsky with 56,050 (53.9%) to 47,953 (46.1%) with an estimated 73% of the vote.

“It has been my honor to serve the residents of Scottsdale as mayor. This was a hard-fought campaign, and although my re-election came up short, I thank each and every voter, volunteer and friend for their support. I congratulate Mayor-elect Borowsky on her victory,” Ortega said in a statement. “She and I disagreed on many issues during this campaign, but I recognize her commitment to the residents of Scottsdale and wish her well.”

According to Campaign Website Borowsky, a lifelong resident of Scottsdale, has spent over two decades as a commercial litigation attorney representing homeowners in construction-related matters. She also has an extensive background in community engagement, including Scottsdale Charros Foundationand has served on several committees while he was on the city council.

She talks about the ideals “fiscal conservatism” helped the city recover from the Great Recession.

While both ran a nonpartisan campaign, Ortega was endorsed by current and former conservative leaders, including Ortega’s predecessor Jim Lane, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb and former state attorney general Mark Brnovich.

Her top campaign priorities included rejecting density-focused development and reining in what she described as “wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.” Her campaign website also outlines seven key issues and focuses on the hospitality industry prioritizing public safety and “vision-based planning.”

Leading up to the election, critics of the independent and one-time council member Ortega said efforts to limit dense built-up, such as tall apartment buildings in the old towncreated a housing crisis for the city. He was also scrutinized by some county leaders and residents of the nearby Rio Verde Foothills community when its water supply was shut off before an agreement was later reached.

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