Disfranchisement of Scottsdale Voters: Axon’s AZ GOP Civil War to Re-Elect Governor Hobbs (Opinion)
Axon wants to be a landlord.
After announcing the proposed new headquarters for Axon and a 2,500-unit apartment complex to match in 2023 on 74 acres near Hayden Road and Loop 101, Scottsdale residents and local politicians fought against the project for various reasons.
In 2024, the proposed apartment complex was reduced to 1,900 units and rushed to be passed by a lame-duck, outgoing Scottsdale City Council and Mayor. In response, residents rose against their corporate interests with the help of TAAZE, a political action committee (PAC). They gathered enough signatures for a Referendum in 2026 to allow Scottsdale residents to decide whether they wanted it built.
Axon responded by sending lobbyists to the Arizona Legislature to craft custom legislation that would supersede Scottsdale’s referendum and allow construction on the apartment complex to proceed.
It’s not my district.
On April 10th, 18 Republican members of the Arizona House of Representatives voted in favor of SB 1543, along with 22 Democrats, allowing the legislation to progress to the Senate. On April 15th, 9 Arizona State Senators, including 8 Democrats, voted in favor of SB 1543, moving it to Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs’s desk for her approval or veto.
Governor Hobbs signed SB 1543 on April 18th, 2025, and refused to meet with Scottsdale politicians.
18 AZ House of Representatives members who voted yes for SB 1543.
1) Rep. Blackman 2) Rep. Bliss 3) Rep. Carbone 4) Rep. Diaz 5) Rep. Gillette 6) Rep. Griffin 7) Rep. Hendrix 8) Rep. Livingston 9) Rep. Lopez 10) Rep. Martinez 11) Rep. Nguyen 12) Rep. Pena 13) Rep. Weninger 14) Rep. Taylor 15) Rep. Rivero 16) Rep Willoughby 17) Rep. Wilmeth 18) Rep. Montenegro
9 Arizona State Senators voted yes for SB 1543.
1) State Senator Bolick 2) State Senator Carroll 3) State Senator Dunn 4) State Senator Farnsworth 5) State Senator Gowan 6) State Senator Leach 7) State Senator Payne 8) State Senator Shamp 9) State Senator Shope
Twenty-seven members of the Arizona GOP Legislature are set to be strategically targeted in the upcoming primary elections for silencing Scottsdale’s voice. Did Axon pay them to pass SB 1543?
This will create a political divide leading into the 2026 elections in Arizona, favoring the Democrats.
Are rental apartments needed in North Scottsdale?
Axon’s proposed apartment complex is 1,900 units, with 30% reserved for Axon employees and first responders. North Phoenix and North Scottsdale areas are already saturated with apartment units, rental homes, and rental condominiums.
There is no housing supply crisis in this area.
Source: Grok AI as of April 16th, 2025
Arizona’s gain is Scottsdale’s loss.
Scottsdale Airport/Airpark generates over $1 billion annually in economic activity and is central to upper-income tourism. During the nine days of the TPC Waste Management Open in February 2025, approximately 900 to 1,800 private planes landed or took off from the Scottsdale Airpark.
In January 2025, Scottsdale’s Airport Advisory Commission unanimously voted against the rezoning because a giant apartment complex beside the airport threatened its future economic growth.
Why?
Axon’s proposed project limits Scottsdale Airpark’s future expansion and unnecessarily puts Scottsdale at risk of facing issues like the Santa Monica Airport situation. Too many residential properties surrounding the airport pose significant challenges — the kiss of death.
On January 1st, 2029, the City of Santa Monica will take over its airport and turn it into a Great Park due to years of community noise complaints and activism. Poor planning and forced projects led to residential noise complaints that ended their airport. This will establish a precedent for other communities to follow suit.
Is an unnecessary economic risk worth the tradeoff for an additional 4,000 jobs?
Axon Propaganda.
To control the narrative surrounding SB 1543 and its related apartment complex, Axon’s President, Josh Isner, tried to portray the opposition as solely composed of union members outside California. This depiction is far from the truth, as the residents of Scottsdale were behind the opposition.
He also blamed the retirement community in Scottsdale for not supporting his company’s building plans.
Axon’s CEO, Rick Smith, posted a poll stating that most Scottsdale residents supported their unwanted apartment complex, and no one believes it.
Axon spokesperson David Lebowitz attempted to clarify the situation, but his efforts fell flat, leaving no one convinced by his arguments. He also shied away from debating with me.
Is Axon positioning itself as a business entity or as a political organization?
Axon and Rep Joseph Chaplik (LD-3).
Representative Chaplik stated on March 3rd, 2025, Axon’s CEO, Rick Smith, threatened his political career at the Arizona State Legislature House lobby.
On March 7th, Axon’s President Josh Isner took to Fox Business to strongly condemn Rep. Chaplik, echoing the sentiments of many Scottsdale residents who refuse to be coerced into accepting an apartment complex imposed by a large corporation.
On April 9th, Rep. Chaplik announced at the AZ State Legislature that Axon would fund re-election campaigns of AZ House & AZ Senate members if they vote Yes on SB 1543.
Axon has no respect for Scottsdale residents or Scottsdale politicians. None.
Arizona politicians deserve praise for helping to stand up against Axon.
Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky, Scottsdale City Vice-Mayor Jan Dubauskas, Scottsdale City Council Member Barry Graham, Scottsdale City Council Member Adam Kwasman, Representative Joseph Chaplik LD-3, Representative Alexander Kolodin LD-3, State Senator John Kavanagh LD-3, Representative Pamela Carter LD-4, State Senator Carine Werner LD-4, The Arizona Freedom Caucus, and the rest of the Arizona State politicians who voted No.
Arizona State Senator Mark Finchem was asked why he voted no on SB 1543, and he responded directly to Page38News, “I try to be consistent on policy.”
Chaos in Arizona over an apartment complex
Axon leveraged a lame-duck Scottsdale City Council to pass their agenda, knowing it wouldn’t be passed with a conservative majority 1 month later.
Axon paid off AZGOP House and State Senate members to pass SB 1543 — eliminating Scottsdale’s 2026 referendum to vote on the 1900-unit apartment complex.
Axon’s CEO, Rick Smith, openly threatened Representative Chaplik’s political career on April 11, 2025. Axon’s President, Josh Isner, was on Fox Business, stating, “Do you want to take one guess what Rep Joseph Chaplik’s full-time job outside of politics is? He is an apartment broker.”
Axon’s headquarters and apartment complex mitigate Scottsdale Airpark’s ability to expand in the future and add an unnecessary economic risk of a Santa Monica Airport situation.
The proposed 1,900-unit apartment complex doesn’t require a 100-year water supply, and Arizona is experiencing a 100-year exceptional drought. It’s irresponsible for future Scottsdale residents.
Axon doesn’t need a 1,900-unit apartment complex, notably when it anticipates fewer than 30% of its employees will opt to live there. This raises serious concerns about its practicality and necessity. They also chose not to negotiate with the City of Scottsdale, my way or the highway.
Consider who emerged victorious in this situation — Axon and Governor Hobbs, not Scottsdale or Arizona Republicans.
Did they and Governor Hobbs plan to create political discord within the Arizona GOP to help Democrats gain state control in 2026? Either way, Scottsdale’s voice was silenced; we will not forget. Axon is the worst neighbor possible.
The courts will determine SB 1543’s future.
Thoughts? Errors or omissions? K. Brett Boswell can be reached by email at [email protected]
K. Brett Boswell, MBA
K. Brett Boswell is an investigative journalist & C.E.O. for Page 38 News
Email: [email protected]
X: @theBoz46