Courtesy of Friends of the Scenic Drive and the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association

Despite the efforts of Friends of the Scenic Drive, this publication,  and residents, the political candidates listed below continue to post political signs on Scottsdale’s Scenic Drive and State Trust Land. The most egregious example of the visual pollution being delivered by candidates is at MacDonald’s Ranch, a popular tourist venue, located on the northwest corner of Scottsdale and Jomax Roads. The pictures below speak for themselves. Is disregarding a decades-old voluntary ban on political signs on an historic Scenic Drive how “leaders,” who want to represent us, seek to showcase the area’s special western ambiance?

There is nothing the folks at MacDonald’s can do about this year’s election blight. They control their horses, not the public roadside.

The Scenic Drive was established 53 years ago to preserve roadside vegetation and vistas. In the mid-1990, Friends of the Scenic Drive with the support of the Scottsdale City Council encouraged a voluntary ban on posting political signs on the northern part of Scottsdale Road, from Happy Valley Road to Carefree Highway, a distance of 6 1/2 miles. Election-after-election, the ban has held as candidates have supported the effort. Not this year!

Desert Foothills Scenic Drive Entry Sign. (Courtesy of Cindy Lee.)

While many candidates have removed their campaign signs from the Scenic Drive, others have not. We took a quick trip on the Scenic Drive and noted that the following candidates still have signs posted.

• Joe Arpaio, Sherriff
• Nancy Barto, State Senate
• Heather Carter, State Representative
• Nancy Case, PV School Board
• Brandon Dweyer, Justice of the Peack
• Anne Greenberg, PV School Board
• Jay Lawrence, State House
• Tonya MacBeth,
• James Rich, Constable
• Amy Riggs, Justice of the Peace
• Dan Schweiker, Scottsdale City Council
• Skidmore
• Steve Watson, School Superintendant

Friends of the Scenic Drive Helps Maintain and Enhance Scottsdale’s Scenic Drive.

Friends of the Scenic Drive invites the above candidates to help us to protect the environment and quality of life. We understand that candidates from other areas of Arizona might not be aware of the voluntary ban, although the staff of the City of Scottsdale has alerted candidates about the ban in the past. The roadsides on the west side of Scottsdale Road from Happy Valley to Jomax Roads are under the jurisdiction of the City of Scottsdale and part of its Scenic Drive, even though much of the land just east of that roadside is part of the City of Phoenix. The same Scenic Corridor setbacks and restrictions apply to both the east and west sides of the road, including the intersection at Jomax and Scottsdale Road.

Once again, we are reaching out to campaigns, by email, phone, and this article, so they can also take pride in helping to preserve the scenic roadsides along a historic landmark. Mr./Ms. Candidate, Please take down your signs on the Scenic Drive.

We need volunteers to help us gather information about candidates and help us reach out to their campaigns. Click on the link to sign-up.

Campaign Signs at MacDonald’s Ranch, Southwest Corner of Scottsdale and Jomax Roads

Campaign Signs at MacDonald’s Ranch, Southwest Corner of Scottsdale and Jomax Roads

Campaign Signs at MacDonald’s Ranch, Southwest Corner of Scottsdale and Jomax Roads

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