SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — Supporters of some conservative school board candidates in Scottsdale claim their opponents got an unfair advantage because of a change in the city’s enforcement posture on political street signs.

Arizona has strict laws governing political signage in the public right of way, including criminal penalties for people who improperly remove or deface signs.

When the slate of Democratic candidates for Scottsdale Unified School Board started placing their signs around July 22, their opponents thought it was a clear breach of the rules.

“It has to be an equal playing field,” said Jill Dunican, a Scottsdale resident who supports the Republican slate.

Dunican and other supporters of the Republican slate felt the Democratic signs were displayed too early, before a 71-day window established by state law.

They filed complaints, and a city code enforcement officer initially suggested the signs were in violation.

Documents provided to Arizona’s Family show the city responded by removing one sign on July 23.

The following day, code enforcement said it received guidance from the legal department that the signs should be allowed to stay.

“You’re caught off guard and the other team is getting visibility and name recognition,” Dunican said. “Allowing teams to operate under different rules is clearly election interference.”

Democratic candidates Mike Sharkey, Donna Lewis, and Matt Pittinsky did not respond to an email Monday seeking comment.

Based on the city’s interpretation of state law, the Democrats placed their signs within the legal window.

Arizona law lets people place political street signs 71 days before a primary election, as long the signs meet certain requirements and are for candidates “running for public office.” That means candidates could start placing signs on May 20.

However, the Scottsdale school board race is unusual.

The race only appears on the general election ballot in November, not the July primary, causing confusion about when the 71-day window begins.

The conservative candidates—Gretchen Jacobs, Jeanne Beasley, and Drew Hassler—planned their signage strategy to coincide with a start date of Aug. 26.

Dunican said the city’s longstanding interpretation of the signage law was that the window started 71 days before the election a candidate appeared in.

An email from a Scottsdale Code Enforcement officer provided to Arizona’s Family cites Aug. 26 as the start date for candidates in the Nov. 5 election.

However, within two days of that email, records show code enforcement officers received new guidance from the city’s legal department.

State law “provides a single period during which election signs are legal: from 71 days before the primary election to 15 days after the general election. State law on this subject does not currently provide separate periods for primary and general elections, only that single span,” Kelly Corsette, communications and public affairs director for the City of Scottsdale, said in a statement to Arizona’s Family.

Corsette did not respond to questions about whether the city reinterpreted the signage law or if the communication from Code Enforcement was based on an error or outdated information.

“In attempting to be responsive to resident complaints, staff initially acted based on the city’s sign ordinance, however, during an election, state law supersedes Scottsdale’s local sign regulations, and the city must follow the State law,” Corsette said.

Dunican and other supporters of the conservative slate believe the Democrats were “tipped off” by someone in the city about the change in enforcement posture.

According to documents, the city sent a guidance email to candidates for mayor and city council on May 16, informing them the signage window opened on May 20.

It’s not clear if that email was shared with candidates for the school board.

The change in enforcement posture on political signs forced the conservative candidates to move up their timeline and rapidly find a designer and printer, Dunican said.

Jacobs, Beasley, and Hassler started placing their large street signs Tuesday night, two weeks behind the other candidates, she said.

“They lost visibility that they’re now desperately trying to catch up,” Dunican said. “The city of Scottsdale most certainly committed election interference.”

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GLENDALE — “It’s been a storm, but I wouldn’t change anything.”

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch has made the most of his very limited opportunities since joining the franchise as a self-proclaimed “camp body” in 2021 after failing to stick with four other organizations.

Three years and two jersey changes later, though, Dortch is seeing his patience, hard work and devotion to faith pay off.

“Everything I’ve been through has made me who I am today,” Dortch said Tuesday.
“It means a lot to be where I am now, but this is really just the beginning.”

“In this life in general, you have to have patience. Things might not always go your way, but you just got to be patient and continue to work,” the wideout added. “I think when you continue to work, you put yourself in the position where opportunities show up for yourself. Once opportunities show up, that’s when you take advantage and things start to change.”

For the first time in his Arizona career, Dortch no longer has to wait for poor play or an injury to pop up to see ample playing time.

Seeing his name listed as a starter on Arizona’s depth chart ahead of its preseason opener against New Orleans was further proof of that.

“I feel like G’s got this look in his eye that he’s ready to fight, like he’s ready to go all the time,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said Tuesday. “He’s about ball. I don’t know what a gamer is but he’s a gamer. … I appreciate that about him. He speaks softly and carries a big stick and I’m glad he’s one of us.”

“It’s always the same with him. He’s never up here, he’s never down here. He’s just ready to buckle up and play. He loves to play and he’s great in meetings. He’s great with maximizing his five buckets. He’s been awesome. He’s going to have a big year.”

A Red & White Dortch lighting to get through another day away from State Farm Stadium. #AZCardinals pic.twitter.com/N2eux15K3J

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) August 5, 2024

But for as much as Dortch has shot up the ranks — especially since the new regime has come to town — the wide receiver is showing no signs of letting up anytime soon.

“It feels great but it’s not here yet,” Dortch said. “I still have to go out and put in the work, still have to show up every single day and be consistent. That’s what this job takes. It feels good to have people believe in you, but come Sunday, if I don’t put in the work and it doesn’t show on Sunday, it doesn’t mean anything.”

And while Dortch is expected to have an elevated role in the offense this season, he’s still very much looking forward to his special teams work.

His abilities as a returner were a big reason he was able to crack an NFL roster. He’s not about to relinquish those duties completely or willingly.

“It’s super important to me,” Dortch said. “Anytime I’m on the field, I’m trying to make a play. The more I can be on the field, whether that’s kick return or punt return, I’m just trying to help the team win. Special teams is big to me. I would hate to have a major role on offense and be taken off of special teams.”

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ARIZONA — While fans await to see what Arizona Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. can do on an actual football field, the virtual gridiron of Madden 25 will see him put up literal video game-like numbers.

Harrison – the No. 4 overall pick – is tied with Los Angeles Chargers OT (and no. 5 pick) Joe Alt for the highest overall rating of 79 in this rookie class.

He’s the sixth-highest rated player for the Cardinals on the upcoming installment of Madden, falling behind:

Budda Baker (90 ovr)
James Conner (83 ovr)
Jalen Thompson (82 ovr)
Trey McBride (82 ovr)
Will Hernandez (80 ovr)

Sean Murphy-Bunting and Zay Jones also carry 79 overall ratings. Matt Prater (78), Kyler Murray (77) and Paris Johnson Jr. (77) are right behind.

Of course, these are just video game ratings and not reflective of what the team actually will be.

The Cardinals will host the New Orleans Saints this Saturday for what will be the first of three preseason games, though it will be the lone opportunity for Arizona fans in the desert to see him with their own eyes (the Cardinals are on the road for preseason weeks 2/3).

That’s if he plays, as Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon was a bit reluctant to say if his star rookie would take the field in just a few day’s time – you can read more about that here.

Whenever that opportunity arises, Murray is really excited to see what Harrison can do:

“He’s been good at football his whole life,” Murray said. “He’s been groomed by one of the best, his pops [Marvin Harrison Sr.], obviously a Hall of Famer.

“I have no doubt he’ll go and do his thing this year and win whenever he wants to. He’s going to be that type of guy. I know how much he loves the game if you’re just sitting there talking to him. His energy, and what he’s going to mean to the team, I think everybody should be excited about him.”