Pima County Board Candidate Miguel Cuevas Answers the Call to Serve

Miguel Cuevas addressed the community at a June forum, expressing his motivation to serve following Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson’s resignation from the District 3 seat in 2023.

“I have experience from front-line work at Burger King to being a director for a tech company,” Cuevas stated. “I embody what District 3 stands for. I’ve made mistakes, which I’ll own up to, but my commitment to this community is unwavering.”

Cuevas has entered a competitive race for the Pima County Board of Supervisors seat, facing three Democratic opponents: Jen Allen, April Hiosik Ignacio, and Edgar Soto.

Among the candidates, Cuevas is the only one with prior elected experience. In 2008, at age 22, he was elected to the Tucson Unified School District Board amidst significant controversies. The district faced pressure from Republicans to shut down its Mexican-American Studies program, leading to a decision in 2012 to end the program under the threat of losing $15 million in state funding.

He later lost his re-election bid, coming in fourth place in a 12-way race. Cuevas defended his vote to dismantle the contentious program, citing financial risks.

Since his time on the board, Cuevas has earned an undergraduate degree, completed an MBA at Grand Canyon University, and built a successful career in the tech industry.

“My father earned about $20,000 to $25,000 annually when I was growing up,” Cuevas shared at the forum. “Now, I’m fortunate to make over $150,000 a year and be part of the middle class.”

He also mentioned that he did not seek endorsements from local elected officials during the primary election cycle, preferring direct engagement with constituents to earn their support.

Financial reports reveal Cuevas has largely self-funded his campaign, contributing $35,078 in loans and raising $47,719 overall, including in-kind contributions, and had just $129 left on hand by the end of the reporting period.

“Though I may have been outspent, I’ve focused on direct voter engagement through in-person conversations and mailers to secure a win on July 30,” Cuevas stated.