Lisa Barofsky sworn in as Scottsdale mayor; three council members also sworn in

Lisa Barofsky was sworn in as mayor of Scottsdale at a public inauguration ceremony in Scottsdale; three newly elected council members — Jan DeBoskis, Adam Kwasman and Mary Anne McAllen — also took the oath of office during the event.

The ceremony, led by Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne A. Scott Timmer, featured the pledge of allegiance, an invocation by Pastor Rustin Rosello of Scottsdale Bible Church and a musical performance by the Gold Dust Avenue a cappella group from Chaparral High School.

Why it matters: the mayor and new council will set policy priorities and direct the city’s agenda for the coming term. In her remarks, Barofsky emphasized restoring public trust and increasing resident participation in city government, outlining a six-point platform she said will guide her administration.

Barofsky, introduced at the ceremony and sworn in onstage, said she ran after seeing a poll that suggested many residents believed Scottsdale was not heading in the right direction. “Restore trust and accountability at city hall,” Mayor Lisa Barofsky said, listing that as a top priority. She also identified strengthening public safety, promoting economic development and tourism, demanding high-quality development, curbing what she called wasteful taxpayer spending and implementing “common sense traffic solutions.”

Councilwoman Jan DeBoskis, who was sworn in earlier in the program, described Scottsdale as “the jewel of Arizona and of the American Southwest” and thanked mentors and supporters from her campaign. Councilman Adam Kwasman thanked the Jewish community for its support, saying, “On behalf of the Jewish community of Scottsdale, thank you for trusting me.” Councilwoman Mary Anne McAllen, who said she has lived in Scottsdale for 60 years, told attendees, “I plan on keeping it beautiful for all of you and for the generations to come.”

Barofsky and others referenced local initiatives aimed at bringing residents back into the civic process. She said one of her priorities is to restore the Citizens’ Budget Commission, a body she and former mayor Jim Lane led the charge to restore in 2008, to review spending and protect taxpayers’ dollars.

The ceremony closed with an invitation to a hosted reception in the lobby. Council members noted the formal business would continue: Barofsky told the audience the council planned to hold a meeting later that night to begin official business under the new administration.