Selina Barajas, candidate for Ward 5 Council at DGT

by Carolyn Classen, blogger

“Please join us on Monday, April 7th at Noon on Zoom to meet Selina Berajas, candidate for the Democratic nomination for City Council in Ward 5. Selina joined us in person for our last Happy Hour, but if you didn’t get to meet her at that event, please come to discuss Selina’s campaign for City Council!

You Must Register in Advance for This Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_ceJYt8XST2WemAxLfMFEQ

Selina Barajas is a fourth-generation Tucsonan, a proud graduate of both Sunnyside and Tucson Unified School Districts, the University of Arizona, and holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from UCLA.

Selina’s roots in our community run deep – both her parents and many of her family members are either proud retirees or current employees of the Sunnyside Unified School District (SUSD). That’s why Selina believes that every family in Ward 5 needs safe streets, better parks, and a healthier environment. With her background in urban planning, she’s worked closely with community members and stakeholders to ensure their voices shape the changes they want to see. At Sunnyside Foundation, Selina helped oversee the Community Investment Fund, investing in infrastructure, public spaces, and community stories south of 22nd Boulevard.  She has the experience to secure the investments our neighborhoods need for upgraded parks, cleaner water, safer streets, small business resources, and faster and more reliable transportation – so that Ward 5 families can thrive for generations to come!

Selina is a trailblazer and creative entrepreneur, and she will bring that spirit to the City Council. She and her husband are in the process of opening Luna y Sol Cafe, South Tucson’s first-ever coffee shop and open habitat for birds and butterflies, in partnership with the Tucson Audubon Society – creating a space for culture, connection, and environmental stewardship.

She is also the founder of Reinas Who Hike, a Southern Arizona collective dedicated to creating a supportive community for women, especially women of color, and families who share a love for the outdoors and hiking in the Sonoran Desert. Through this work, she has empowered more people to connect with nature, advocate for public lands, and build strong, inclusive communities.

When she’s not working or building community, Selina loves spending time with her husband Abraham and their two young daughters, Sofia Luna and Mia Sol, marveling at the vibrant desert sunsets and monsoon rains that the Sonoran Desert offers.”

Carolyn’s note: Six candidates (all Democrats) seeking this Ward 5 Council open seat since Councilman Richard Fimbres (D) is retiring after 4 terms. Deadline to file nomination petitions is April 7. Barajas is a political newcomer.