Rising Contenders Eye 2025 Tucson City Council Seats

Two candidates have emerged for Tucson City Council races this year: Jesse Lugo in Ward 5 and Theresa Riel in Ward 6, both preparing distinct campaigns.

Jesse Lugo, a longtime local Democrat, has officially declared his intention to run for the South Side Ward 5 seat. Lugo is well-known in the community for his commitment to philanthropy, particularly for donating bikes to underprivileged youth during the holidays. Prior to this, he worked as a lobbyist and operated an independent gas station.

Incumbent Councilman Richard Fimbres, who was first elected in 2009, announced earlier this month that he will not seek a fifth term in Ward 5. Alongside Lugo, Richard Hernandez, a Democrat and political figure who previously ran for the Pima County Board of Supervisors in 2020, has also filed a statement of interest for the same seat.

City candidates are required to submit a statement of interest before collecting signatures for their nominating petitions. Additionally, candidates must file a statement of organization before raising more than $500 or, if participating in the publicly financed campaign program, before collecting nomination signatures.

Nominating petitions for the upcoming primary on August 5 are due by April 7.

In the Ward 6 race, Theresa Riel, a member of the Pima Community College Governing Board, filed her statement of organization on January 7. She emphasized that her involvement with the Midtown neighborhood association and the PCC board has equipped her for a potential role on the City Council.

“I plan to engage with the community, as I did during my PCC campaign,” Riel stated, expressing her commitment to understanding the priorities of constituents. She joins a competitive field of three other Democrats set to vie for the open seat.

Current Ward 6 Councilmember Karin Uhlich will not run this year after being appointed to the position in May 2024 following Steve Kozachik’s departure from the role. In 2021, Miranda Schubert, who previously garnered 28 percent of the vote against Kozachik, filed her statement of organization on December 14 and is planning a campaign kickoff party in late January. Alongside her is Charlie Verdin, a local entrepreneur concerned about the rising cost of housing, who filed his statement on December 18.

Leighton Rockafellow Jr., an attorney making his first run for office, filed his statement on December 9. Rockafellow emphasized the need for a legal perspective in the Council to address local governance challenges. TUSD Board member Val Romero, who previously ran independently for Ward 6, expressed uncertainty about his campaign plans while consulting with potential allies for the upcoming elections.

In Ward 3, Councilman Kevin Dahl seeks re-election, with no challengers currently announced. Meanwhile, Pima County Republican Party Chairwoman Kathleen Winn anticipates that Republican candidates will eventually enter all three races.

Tucson’s City Council elections are held in odd-numbered years, and the current voter registration reflects a significant Democratic advantage, with nearly double the number of registered Democrats compared to Republicans.

This year, the focus will be on how these emerging candidates will influence local governance as they engage with the community and tackle pressing issues facing Tucson.