Joseph Chaplik Calls for Resignation of SUSD Board Member Matt Pittinsky

Arizona Capitol

State Representative Joseph Chaplik (R-3) is calling for the resignation of Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) board member Matthew Pittinsky in the wake of a scandal involving underage drinking.

According to Arizona Free News, Pittinsky held a birthday party for his son on November 7th that quickly spiraled out of control, neighbors said. Police and medical responders arrived on the scene, and a girl was hospitalized for alcohol poisoning.

While Pittinsky hired security for the event to limit admission and said it was supposed to last until midnight, party invites said it would last from 8 pm to "GTFO" ('get the f*ck out') and encouraged those invited to "Bring Your Own Everything."

"There was an underage girl hauled away in an ambulance for alcohol poisoning from a rave party at Mr. Pittinsky's house," described a neighbor. "Paradise Valley Police Department had to shut this mess down, and our neighborhood had a mess from it. It was quite the scene."

As a result, Pittinsky's commitment to student health and safety has come under fire.

In a post to X (formerly Twitter), State Rep. Chaplik said, "As more info surfaces from the party with SUSD Governing Board Member Pittinsky, it only gets worse."

"Over 500 kids were at this 'rave' with underage drinking that Pittinsky and his wife hosted," State Rep. Chaplik continued, adding, "Poor decision making = he should not be in charge of a school district and your children's future. I am calling on him to do the right thing today and resign."

In August, State Representative Walt Blackman (R-7) demanded accountability from the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) after they supposedly failed to act in time to save Rebekah Baptiste, a 10-year-old girl who died from abuse and neglect.

"I will bring DCS, and anyone who neglected this child, in front of my committee and refer the findings of my investigation to the Arizona Attorney General's Office for further investigation," said Rep. Blackman, adding, "Accountability is not optional. Arizona's children deserve more than condolences—they deserve protection."

Grayson Bakich

Florida born and raised, Grayson Bakich is a recent recipient of a Master’s Degree in Political Science at the University of Central Florida. His thesis examined recent trends in political polarization and how this leads into justification of violence.