Sen. Carine Werner says she apologized; Scottsdale Unified employee says not for remarks on her appearance
Based on reporting by Jamar Younger for Arizona Capitol Times, published October 10, 2025.
Sen. Carine Werner, R-Scottsdale, told a Scottsdale Unified School District board meeting on Oct. 7 that she had taken responsibility and apologized after being accused of calling a district employee morbidly obese at the board's Aug. 5 meeting, the Arizona Capitol Times reported. The employee, nutrition services director Patti Bilbrey, said Werner never apologized for the remarks about her appearance.
"I did take full responsibility for the comments. I reached out immediately to Patti and apologized," Werner said at the meeting. She also said a vocal few had manufactured controversy for their own political ends, some going as far as making threats against her.
In an Oct. 9 statement, Bilbrey said Werner called her on Aug. 10 to express regret that Bilbrey had been caught up in the situation. But Bilbrey said Werner "did not, and has not, apologized for the personal and inappropriate comments made about my appearance." Bilbrey said Werner told her the comments were part of a side conversation with her son about childhood obesity, but that the livestream captured them being made in direct response to her presentation.
Werner then shared with the Capitol Times a transcript of the call, which lasted about three and a half minutes. In it, Werner apologized for what was happening and how Bilbrey had been affected, said it was her fault, and later said she was sorry Bilbrey had been dragged into it. After learning of the transcript, Bilbrey confirmed Werner had apologized, but not for the remarks about her appearance.
Almost 1,800 people have signed a petition calling for Werner to resign from the board. Critics want to launch a recall campaign against her the following month, while her supporters say she is being unfairly targeted.