Today was the filing deadline for those interested in serving on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board. Nine people filed by the 5 p.m. deadline, so here’s the cast of candidates to choose from in the November 4th general election. This is a nonpartisan race for 2 school board members (unpaid volunteers). The two incumbents are Adelita Grijalva and Michael Hicks, both running for re-election. In alphabetical order from last name:
Rene Bernal , applied software engineer at Honeywell, political newcomer, www.tusdsbernal.com
Debe Campos-Fleenor, owner of financial/ insurance agency, ran before in 2012. www.debefortusd.com
Don Cotton, self-employed businessman, ran before in 2012, father of 2 TuSD students, www.cottontusd.com
Miguel Cuevas, former TUSD board member, elected in 2008, lost in 2012 (came in 4th for 3 seats, out of a pool of 12 candidates), project coach at AFNI, www.votemiguelcuevas.com, https://www.facebook.com/Miguelcuevasfortusd
Jenifer Darland, policical newcomer, community activist, mother of 2 TUSD children, www. darlandfortusd.com, https://www.facebook.com/DarlandforTUSD
Adelita Grijalva, current board member and President, has served since 2004, http://www.adelitafortusd.com/, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adelita-Grijalva-for-TUSD-School-Board/130007817047419, daughter of CD 3 Congressman Raul Grijalva, mother of 2 TUSD students
Michael Hicks, current board member, elected in 2010, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Hicks-for-2014-TUSD-School-Board-Member/112861325429566, father of 2 TUSD students
Betts Putnam-Hidalgo, community activist & part time teacher, ran before in 2012, mother of son at TUSD school, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stand-with-betts-for-TUSD/204287006336384
Francis Saitta, Pima Community College adjunct math/ science teacher, ran unsuccessfully for PCC Governing Bd. in 2012 (District 5)
Several of these candidates have Facebook pages, and I’m listing those I could locate to help voters get more information about these candidates. If I’ve missed your campaign website or FB page, please comment below, and I’ll update. Here’s the link to the Gen. election of Nov.2012 with results from that TUSD 12 way race for 3 seats: http://webcms.pima.gov/UserFiles/Servers/Server_6/File/Government/elections/Election%20Results/res1112.htm Also serving currently on the TUSD Board are Mark Stegeman, Kristel Foster, and Cam Juarez. Stay tuned for upcoming forums, which I will be posting on the Blog for AZ Calendar. There is already one upcoming forum at Democrats for Greater Tucson on Monday September 15, high noon, Dragon’s View Restaurant. See our Blog for AZ Calendar our more details. UPDATE: Another candidate forum for TUSD Governing Board will be held on August 27, 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, 3809 E. 3rd St. More details on our Blog for AZ Calendar.
After two (or so) official months of campaigning, here are the local newspaper endorsements for the 2 seats in this TUSD board race: https://blogforarizona.net/newspaper-endorsements-in-tusd-governing-board-race/
People have been asking about party affiliation in this race, although it is nonpartisan. As far as I know (by checking w/ Pima County Recorder’s office), all are Democrats except for Hicks and Campos-Fleenor, who are Republicans. I did hear them speak to the Pima County Republican Club back in the spring (March 25), along with board member Mark Stegeman, about TUSD issues. Vote wisely on or before Nov. 4, 2014.
And here’s the official list from the Pima County School Superintendent of the other school board candidates: http://pima-county-schools.s3.amazonaws.com/downloads/46/2014_official_list_of_pima_county_school_board_candidates_%28080614%29.pdf
Above is my campaign website. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Adelita, updated this post with your campaign website as well as your FB page.
Go Jenifer Darland!