TUSD’s Sadie Shaw Sets Sights on Tackling Dahl for Tucson Council Primary

Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) Board member Sadie Shaw has officially announced her campaign against Ward 3 Councilmember Kevin Dahl for the Democratic primary scheduled on August 5. In her role as the public art and community design administrator for the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona, Shaw aims to amplify the voices of those she believes have been overlooked.

Shaw filed her statement of organization with the City Clerk’s Office on Friday, emphasizing the need for decisive governance. “Our city is at a turning point,” she remarked in an email. Shaw criticized recent proposals from Mayor Regina Romero and other City Council members aimed at modifying ordinances related to camping in public spaces, which she feels inadequately address the complexities of homelessness.

“Instead of addressing the root causes of homelessness, this change will only push those people onto sidewalks and into neighborhood alleys, creating an even bigger public safety and health crisis,” she stated. Shaw referenced the previous closure of Santa Rita Park as a detrimental example of ineffective policy.

Kevin Dahl, who has a longstanding history of environmental advocacy through organizations such as Native Seeds/SEARCH, expressed his intention to seek a second term to advance several initiatives he has undertaken since winning the Ward 3 seat four years ago. “After a little over three years, I feel that the Ward 3 office and myself are reaching a good stride,” Dahl told the Sentinel. He emphasized his ongoing commitment to constituent services and remarked on the substantial progress his office has made.

Dahl is planning a campaign launch event at 5:30 p.m. on March 19 at Brother John’s Beer, Bourbon and BBQ. As of February 22, he led fundraising efforts among City Council candidates, raising $22,975, with a remaining balance of $20,202 after previous expenditures.

Candidates must file their nominating petitions by April 7 to secure a spot on the primary ballot. For Ward 3 Democrats, 391 signatures are needed, in contrast to 114 for Republicans and a mere four for Libertarians. The Green Party is excluded from Tucson city elections due to a lack of sufficient voter numbers.

In a related development, Democrat Miranda Schubert has successfully submitted her nominating petitions for Midtown Ward 6, gathering the maximum number of 1,151 signatures. She has also applied for matching funds through the city’s publicly funded campaign program, having raised $13,620 while maintaining a balance of $8,345 after spending $5,274.

Schubert expressed gratitude for her supporters, attributing her quick success to the efforts of dedicated volunteers. The Ward 6 race includes three other Democratic candidates: Leighton Rockafellow Jr., Theresa Riel, and Jim Sinex. With no incumbent in this race, Schubert aims to capitalize on her previous experience, having garnered 28% of the vote when she challenged Steve Kozachik in 2021.

Meanwhile, Jay Tolkoff, the sole Republican candidate for the City Council this year, views voter enthusiasm as a positive sign for the upcoming general election. He noted an encouraging turnout in recent votes against Proposition 414, which was decisively rejected by voters.

The landscape for Council races is challenging for GOP candidates, particularly due to the city’s Democratic voter registration advantage. Currently, Democrats comprise 42% of the electorate, while Republicans make up 22%, with independents at 36%.

The Ward 5 seat is also open this year, as Councilmember Richard Fimbres has opted not to seek reelection. Several candidates, including former Sunnyside Foundation staffer Selina Barajas and business lobbyist Jesse Lugo, have filed statements to run. Tucson’s election cycle occurs in odd-numbered years, with the last round of elections held in 2023 where Mayor Regina Romero and other Council members were elected for four-year terms.