DAVID ORTEGA Candidate Scottsdale Mayor
My Ortega family goes back many generations, originally settling in Tubac and the Presidio of Tucson. My grandfather Jose Ismael Ortega was born in 1902 on the Ortega ranch north of Tucson. My dad, Joe Alfred Ortega, graduated at the University of Arizona in 1951 and met nurse Rachel De Los Santos while Lieutenant J.A. Ortega was hospitalized during the Korean War. He was never expected to walk again, but recovered and they married in Tucson. I am the oldest son of seven children and grew up in Globe, with short periods in Texas, Tucson and back to Globe where I graduated. I went to school with Apaches, copper miners and cowboys. In 1977 I earned an Architecture degree ( University of Arizona). My grandparents lived three blocks from the U of A Main Gate and shared many stories.
David Ortega Interview -
Q - Historically, Scottsdale has annexed areas in Maricopa County to grow. The Rio Verde Foothills with nearly 2,000 residences, and adjacent to the City, looks like the next annexation target. What do you think? A - I think it is time to slow down on the annexation process. The citizens must first approve a new General Plan that will provide guidance on land acquisition for Scottsdale. The residents who currently live in this area need to make their thoughts on being acquired known – loud and clear. No movement to acquisition until there is a meeting of the minds.
In 1978, I came to Scottsdale as an apprentice architect, fell in love, and married a Scottsdale lady. We raised two children who loved Scottsdale public schools and neighborhood friends. In 1984, I opened my architect office in Old Town and designed many landmark buildings. It was my honor to serve as Councilman 2000-04.
Q - Scottsdale has mostly run out of raw-land to build on, and now is growing vertically with very high density. Scottsdale recently approved 54 units on barely over one single acre. Do you find that excessive?
Meet me at: ElectDaveOrtegaMayor. com Email: ElectDaveOrtegaMayor@ gmail.com
Attached is a family picture of my grandparents Natalia and Jose Ismael Ortega . My father Joe Al Ortega was 2 years old. ( Tucson 1931) No smiles during the Depression.
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A - The project you refer to is called Canalside. I sent a letter to City Council with my objections to the project. It is too big and too dense for a small parcel. It would be a better choice to have 20 – 30 units. Parking is undersized and this is another problem with the project. Q - Queen Creek, Gilbert and Chandler all took a lot of pages out of Scottsdale’s playbook for design and style. They executed on farmland with larger planned developments that feature new beautiful roadways with extensive landscaping and more. Scottsdale out-shined these other communities in the past. How can Scottsdale regain its edge? OCTOBER 2020
