Hip-Hop Star Danobeytia Exits Tucson City Council Race

A Tucson City Council candidate is withdrawing from the Ward 5 race, citing concerns over signature validity. Fabian Danobeytia, also known as hip-hop artist “Dan,OBEY!”, announced his decision after an attorney from Barton Mendez Soto informed him of a potential legal challenge regarding his nomination petitions.

Danobeytia gathered 258 signatures but only needed 252 valid ones to secure a spot on the ballot. He faced the risk of disqualification due to the stringent requirement that candidates typically collect more signatures to mitigate the risk of invalid ones being challenged. “We are moving forward with the process to withdraw from the race,” he stated.

The withdrawal comes just before the April 21 deadline for filing a legal challenge, according to Shawna Lee, a management coordinator with the City Clerk’s Office. Danobeytia, who previously worked in the software industry, aimed to be “a voice that puts people over corporate interests” in his campaign.

His exit leaves three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for the open Ward 5 seat, which will soon be vacated by Councilmember Richard Fimbres. Fimbres is not seeking re-election and announced he would resign effective May 1 to focus on his health.

Jesse Lugo, a veteran businessman and former candidate, is making another attempt for the position, backed by Fimbres’ endorsement. First-time candidate Selina Barajas has garnered support from several prominent local officials, including Mayor Regina Romero. Christopher Elsner, a newcomer to politics, is also in the race. With no Republican, Libertarian, or independent challengers, the Democratic primary on August 5 will likely determine the next representative for Ward 5.

The City Council plans to discuss the process for Fimbres’ replacement at an upcoming meeting on April 22. Mayor Romero expressed a preference for appointing an interim replacement rather than selecting one of the current candidates to avoid giving them an electoral advantage.

Tucson conducts city elections in odd-numbered years, and this year, positions in wards 3 and 6 are also up for grabs.