2026 HOST

Scott Anderson was elected to the Town Council in 2016. He has been involved in the planning and development of Gilbert as a staff member since moving here in 1988 with his wife EJ, and five children. In 2013, he retired from the Town of Gilbert.

The founding father of the Gilbert Riparian Preserve, it was his idea to transform a waste water treatment site from simple water recharge into a national award winning project that has become one of the most popular visitor destinations in the state. The preserves have been studied and copied by communities around the world seeking to be more sustainable. While Director of the Riparian Institute, Scott partnered with local organizations and businesses to create the Gilbert Rotary Centennial Observatory, the only dedicated public observatory in the region.

Before his work with the riparian preserves, Scott was the Planning and Zoning Director for Gilbert for 12 years where he managed a department that saw the Town grow from a population of 20,000 to over 100,000. As Director, Scott created a general plan, managed all planning and zoning processes, including changes to the zoning code, and began work on special area plans such as the Heritage district and San Tan Area Plan.

Scott has a degree in Geography and International Relations from Brigham Young University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Colorado.