Scottsdale voters will pick two new City Council members and two school board members on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls closing at 7 p.m.

Three candidates are competing for two council seats, and three more are vying for two spots on the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Governing Board. Voters will also weigh in on a $375 million SUSD bond request.

As of Oct. 29, the city reported 75,897 early ballots returned out of 141,774 requested, according to the city's election page.

City Council: Graham, Ugenti-Rita and Zubia

The council race narrowed after a July 21 primary that started with eight candidates running for three seats. Councilmember Solange Whitehead won her seat outright with a majority of votes cast. Four candidates advanced to the general election, but former Councilman Bob Littlefield formally withdrew his candidacy on Aug. 4, according to city records.

That leaves voters choosing two of three: incumbent Barry Graham, former state senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita and Raoul Zubia.

Graham, a 41-year-old certified public accountant and Chaparral High School graduate, describes himself in his voter information pamphlet statement as focused on neighborhoods, open spaces and public safety. Ugenti-Rita says she served Scottsdale for 12 years in the state legislature and is a small business owner. Zubia, who ran for council in 2022 and finished sixth out of seven candidates, says in his pamphlet that he is running to "secure our water, protect our neighborhoods, the Preserve and restore respect to the City Council," as reported by the Scottsdale Progress.

Winners begin their terms in January 2027.

SUSD board: Carney, Beasley and Johnson

Two seats are open on the five-member SUSD Governing Board. Incumbent Amy Carney is seeking reelection after four years on the board. Board member Carine Werner chose not to run again. Challengers Jeannie Beasley and Dr. Jennifer Johnson round out the field.

Carney, a mother of six whose children attended SUSD schools, has said she voted against closing Pima Elementary and Echo Canyon K-8, according to Scottsdale Vibes. Beasley, a nearly 30-year Scottsdale resident, served on the district's Audit Committee and has more than 20 years of experience as a litigation paralegal. Johnson is a career educator who has served as a teacher, high school principal, district superintendent and deputy superintendent with the Arizona Department of Education, according to Scottsdale Vibes.

The three candidates squared off at an Oct. 7 forum hosted by the Scottsdale Parent Council, where they fielded questions about declining enrollment, school closures and the bond proposal, the Scottsdale Independent reported.

The remaining board members, Donna Lewis, Matt Pittinsky and Mike Sharkey, were elected in November 2024 and serve through 2028.

$375 million bond on the ballot

SUSD is also asking voters to approve a $375 million bond for capital projects. The district's last bond, approved in 2016, was $229 million. Bond funds can only be used for voter-approved capital projects and cannot pay for teacher salaries, employee benefits or daily operating expenses, according to the Scottsdale Progress. SUSD serves roughly 20,000 students across Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, as well as parts of Phoenix and Tempe.

How to vote

All voting locations are open on Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the city's voting page. Voters can cast ballots at any location. Completed ballots can also be dropped off at Scottsdale City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Additional Maricopa County voting locations are available at Locations.Maricopa.Vote. Election results will be posted on the city's elections page after polls close at 7 p.m.