Pima County School Board Races Heat Up

This week, candidates for Pima County school boards submitted their nominating petitions. These nonpartisan positions, generally four-year terms without pay, see candidates running within their respective districts.

Although legal challenges may still influence who appears on the ballot, the current candidate landscape post-July 8 filing is clear. The Tucson Unified School District, the largest district in the community, has five contenders for three seats. Incumbents Sadie Shaw, Ravi Shah, and Natalie Luna Rose are up against Pilar Acosta Ruiz, a Teamsters Local 104 member focused on budget and safety concerns, and Esteban Flores, who is aiming for a career in ministry.

In the Vail Unified School District, incumbents Callie Tippett, Chris King, and Allison Pratt face Laura Moore, a former Corona Foothills Middle School site council member, and John Mothershead.

The Marana Unified School District sees incumbents David Willard and Hunter Holt competing with four new candidates for three seats: Cathie Raymond, a former CTE director; CPA Roy Alexander; Mikail Roberts, a previous candidate; and Collin Eddy, an educator involved with Tucson’s S.Y.STEM Coalition.

In the Flowing Wells Unified School District, incumbents Kevin Daily, Wendy Effing, and Stephanie Miller are challenged by Joseph Delgado.

For the Catalina Foothills Unified School District, with incumbents Carole Siegler and Doug Hadley not seeking re-election, Jacquelyn Davoli, Tom Logue (running as a team), optometrist Bart Pemberton, and realtor Jennifer Repscher vie for the open seats. Another seat due to the late Amy Bhola’s passing sees appointed incumbent Eileen Jackson running against teacher Brooke Arispe.

The Tanque Verde Unified School District on the Southeast Side faces a contest where incumbents Anne Velosa, Jeffrey Neff, and Jeremy Schalk compete with challenger Christy Brent for three seats.

In the Sahuarita Unified School District south of Tucson, incumbents Denise D. Reis and Tony Bruno face Debra Fettig, Amy Petersmarck, and Kathryn Zanin for three seats.

The Baboquivari Unified School District on the Tohono O’odham Nation has three candidates vying for two seats: incumbents Annamarie Stevens and Ella Mae Greasewood, with challenger Jessica Miquel.

Several districts have uncontested races. In the Sunnyside Unified School District, Ted G. Rodriquez, Beki Quintero, and Jesus Edgardo Bustamante run for three seats. In the Amphitheater Unified School District, candidates Deanna M. Day, Vicki Cox Golder, and Patsy Harris contend for three seats. Altar Valley Elementary School District has Sarah King, Dan Tankersley, and Martin Hudecek for three seats. Continental Elementary School District records Kelley Allen, Laura Peters-LeFever, and Andrew McGibbon running for three seats. And in the Ajo Unified School District, Eric Krznarich and Lonnie Guthrie compete for two seats.