Dahl’s Tucson Council Campaign Secures City Matching Funds

Ward 3 Councilman Kevin Dahl’s reelection campaign has successfully qualified for matching funds, making him eligible for approximately $140,000 from Tucson city for the upcoming primary. The Tucson City Clerk’s Office confirmed on May 23 that Dahl passed an audit after submitting his application on April 8.

The matching funds initiative, established by voters in the 1980s, allows candidates to receive a dollar-for-dollar match for contributions from individual residents. To qualify, candidates must secure at least 200 contributions of $10 or more from Tucson residents while agreeing to spending limits. Though a final limit will be determined in July, the preliminary cap is set at $187,162 for the total campaign and $140,372 for the primary.

Dahl has emerged as the frontrunner in fundraising, reporting $31,931 in contributions and maintaining a bank balance of $22,807 as of March 31. His fundraising efforts make him eligible for $31,421 in matching funds based on the end-of-March totals. His opponent, Sadie Shaw, a Board member of the Tucson Unified School District, is scheduled to meet with the City Clerk’s Office on May 27 to submit her application for matching funds. Shaw’s recent reports show she raised $2,366 since entering the race on March 13.

The Democratic primary winner will compete against Republican Janet “JL” Wittenbraker in the general election on November 4. Wittenbraker has yet to raise funds as reported up to March 31. However, she indicated to the Sentinel that she has gathered about half of the required contributions to apply for matching funds.

Meanwhile, in the Midtown Ward 6 race, four Democrats—Miranda Schubert, Leighton Rockafellow Jr., Theresa Riel, and Jim Sinex—are contending. Schubert, the only Ward 6 candidate approved for matching funds, reported raising $19,431 and received an additional $16,459 in public matching funds, totaling $35,891 after expenses of $13,482, leaving her with $22,409 in the bank. Rockafellow, an attorney, filed his application for matching funds on May 14, reporting $26,145 in contributions and $15,588 remaining.

Riel has yet to apply for matching funds but reported $3,050 raised and $2,537 left in her bank account. Sinex, a retired science teacher, reported no fundraising outside of a single $324 contribution to his campaign as of the end of March and has not applied for matching funds.

The Democratic primary winner in Ward 6 will face Republican Jay Tolkoff, a former sandwich shop owner who has also run a construction business. Tolkoff’s fundraising report shows a $100 loan to his campaign through March 31.

In Ward 5, two out of three Democratic candidates have applied for matching funds, with Selina Barajas and Jesse Lugo’s applications under audit. Lugo, a former service station owner, reported raising $25,920, with $20,657 remaining in his account. His filing indicates he could qualify for $24,320 in matching funds. Barajas, launching a South Tucson café, reported raising $15,336 with a remaining balance of $9,224, and anticipates eligibility for $14,373 in matching funds. The third candidate, Chris Elsner, has not yet applied for these funds. His latest report shows $4,043 raised, including donations from family, and a balance of $1,541.