Tucson Votes On Sanctuary City, Raises, Council And Mayor

TUCSON, AZ — Voters in Tucson are choosing a new mayor and deciding three council races in Tuesday’s municipal election. The elections are by mail-in ballot, but voters who missed the deadline to return them can still drop them off at city election sites and have their votes counted.

That’s leading to some confusion because several school districts are holding votes on budget overrides, and the Golder Ranch Fire District north of Tucson is also voting on a bond package. Those elections will be run by Pima County, which has its own drop-off locations.

The city ballots can’t be dropped off at county sites, and the county ballots can’t be dropped off at city sites.

FINAL RESULTS: TUCSON CITY ELECTION

What’s On Tucson City Ballot

Three people are running to replace Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, who isn’t seeking re-election. They are current Ward I Tucson City Councilwoman Regina Romero, a Democrat; Green Party candidate Mike Cease; and Independent candidate Ed Ackerly.

In the Ward 1 race, candidates are Nancy Sam, a Republican; Lane Santa Cruz, a Democrat; and Green Party candidate Matthew Smith.

In the Ward 2 race, incumbent Democrat Paul Cunningham is challenged by Republican Ewart Williams and Green Party Candidate William Peterson.

Three newcomers — Green Party candidate Cara Bissell, Republican Michael Hicks and Democrat Nikki Lee — are running for the Ward 4 council position.

Voters will also decide two ballot measures:

• Proposition 205, called “Tucson Families Free and Together,” is a citizen-initiated measure that would declare Tucson a sanctuary city. Among other things, restrict police officers from trying to determine a person’s immigration status under certain conditions, prohibit police from contacting federal law enforcement agencies to determine a person’s immigration status, and prohibit Tucson city employees from asking about a person’s immigration status.
• Proposition 409 would raise the salary for the Tucson mayor fro $42,000 to $63,128 per year, and the salaries of city council members from $24,000 to $42,081 per year.

Where To Drop Off City Ballots

On Election Day, registered Tucson voters may drop off their vote-by-mail ballots, vote in person or receive a vote-by-mail replacement ballot at one of the following locations:

• Department of Housing and Community Development, 310 N. Commerce Park Loop, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Morris K. Udall Regional Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Donna R. Liggins Recreation Center, 2160 N. Sixth Ave., 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
• William Clements Recreation Center, 8155 E. Poinciana Drive, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
• El Pueblo Senior Center, 101 W. Irvington Road, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Parks and Recreation Administration, Randolph Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, 6 a.m-7 p.m.
• Tucson City Clerk Elections Center, 800 E. 12th St., 6 a.m.-7 p.m.

School Budget Override Elections

Registered voters in the Altar Valley Elementary, Amphitheater Public Schools, Flowing Wells Unified School District and Sunnyside Unified School District will deciding budget overrides that would approve additional funding for a wide range of operating expenses.

The overrides last for seven years and are funded by local property taxes.

Those ballots may be dropped off at the following locations:

• Pima County Recorder’s main office, 240 N. Stone Ave., 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Recorder’s east side office, 6920 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Recorder’s Ballot Processing Center, 6550 S. Country Club Road, Tucson, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Woods Memorial Library, 3455 N. First Ave., Tucson, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Oro Valley Library, 1305 W. Naranja Drive, Oro Valley, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Flowing Wells Library, 1730 W. Wetmore Road, Tucson, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Robles Junction Community Center, 16150 W. Ajo Highway, Tucson, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.

Voters in the Golder Ranch Fire District will decide whether to issue $26.6 million in bonds to retire existing debt and make capital improvements to 10 existing fire stations.

Ballots that weren’t mailed in by the deadline can be dropped off at the Pima County recorder’s ballot processing center at 6550 S. Country Club Road in Tucson.