For the first time in 16 years, Tucson Ward 5 residents will elect a new city council member after incumbent Richard Fimbres’ resignation in May.
Since then, Rocque Perez has filled in as the representative for the southwest side of Tucson including neighborhoods including Sunnyside and Pueblo Gardens. He is not running for the office.
During the latter part of his tenure, Fimbres dealt with health struggles, attending city council meetings virtually. Fimbres’ legacy includes supporting infrastructural improvements, especially for often-neglected south side neighborhoods through policies such as Prop. 411 and economic development projects.
This year, three Democrats are competing for the seat, working to convince constituents of their ability to handle a swath of challenging issues from infrastructure to homelessness. The Ward 5 primary is scheduled for Aug. 5. The general election will be held on Nov. 4, when voters citywide will select the next council member; however with no Republican candidates, the winner of the Democratic primary will likely win the seat.
Selina Barajas and Chris Elsner spoke to Arizona Luminaria about their motivations and plans for candidacy. Fimbres endorsed candidate Jesse Lugo, who did not respond to numerous email requests for an interview.
Barajas is a lifelong Tucson resident, growing up on the southwest side of the city. She studied urban planning at UCLA, inspired by Lorraine Lee, a Chicana urban planner and fellow Tucsonan. After working in nonprofits and city government in Los Angeles for 10 years, Barajas returned to Tucson in 2018.
Barajas said several factors influenced her run for city council. Witnessing her daughter’s distress over the 2024 presidential election solidified her desire for a healthier environment for her children and then seeing only men initially announce their candidacy for Ward 5 made her feel the community deserved a more inclusive representative.
Finally, she wanted to make a positive difference by combining her extensive experience in urban planning, nonprofit work and city government in Los Angeles with her deep roots in Tucson and concern for her community.
“I want better for our community because I am a reflection of this community,” she said.
Elsner is a first-time candidate, identifying as a progressive Democrat. He was born in Arizona, lived in various locations including Southern California and the Chicago suburbs, and moved to Tucson in 2011 after serving in the Peace Corps. He has lived in Tucson longer than anywhere else, his children were born here, and he considers it home.
Elsner says many people feel overlooked and frustrated by how disconnected they are from their representatives. He sees this friction as a big problem for the community and, more broadly, democracy.
“We need to do better. And that’s my goal as an elected official is to serve the people and serve the community and not my own self-interest,” he said.
This is Lugo’s third time running for a political seat and second time running for Ward 5 city council member. We’ve summarized his positions from past coverage and his candidate website.
Here’s where the candidates land on key issues.
Budget constraints mean getting creative
Tucson city officials have painted a bleak budget picture for the city amid the federal funding uncertainty, the loss of revenue from a state-level flat tax and Tucson voters rejecting a city-proposed sales tax, Prop 414, this spring.
How will candidates weigh what funding is essential, and where they’ll cut back or fight for more, if they are elected
Barajas says she wants to prioritize housing opportunities and community resources with an emphasis on homelessness and street and road improvements. She wants to look at existing resources before asking voters for more tax funds. Rather than trying to pass a big policy like the failed Prop. 414, she’d like to take the favored elements of the proposal and try to get it through phases.
“Let’s get to the root of what’s causing these issues before we could talk about, you know, like helicopters or what not,” she said referring to the portion of the bill that gave money to law enforcement for additional equipment.
Elsner wants to prioritize improving infrastructure, addressing homelessness and affordable housing with the budget. He says he understands the challenges of balancing the city’s budget under tight financial constraints, while calling for more creative and equitable revenue strategies. Elsner said much of the city’s funding is restricted in forms such as bond initiatives earmarked for specific purposes which leaves limited flexibility for discretionary spending. “We have to balance the budget. We are obligated to do that,” he said, noting the city is also bound by the charter to provide essential services.
To expand funding options, Elsner proposes several progressive revenue ideas, including income-based civil fines; local vehicle registration fees for cars and e-bikes; and event and hotel taxes.
He supports future bond measures, but said the city must do a better job explaining how the money will be used. He sees Prop. 414 as a missed opportunity due to poor communication and public confusion about the measure. He said the city’s high sales tax burden makes it important to show residents tangible results.
“It’s like you keep asking me for more sales tax increases to pay for these bonds, but I don’t see that in my day-to-day life in my community, because government is sometimes slow and it takes years sometimes before projects happen and that’s frustrating for a lot of people,” he explained. “I think it undermines our ability to then ask for additional support to do the things that we need in our community.”
Lugo lists fire and police as his highest priorities on his website, stating:
“The safety of our community must be the highest priority in our budget process, period.”
He also mentions the importance of budgeting and creating road construction and maintenance policies. Lugo also states that sales tax must remain at the “bare minimum.”
Housing and homelessness a top concern for Ward 5
Housing insecurity and homelessness weigh heavy on the minds of voters and their representatives, especially in Ward 5.
Tucson’s population is projected to grow 7.5% to 603,724 by 2045 (up from 561,548 in 2023), the city must add more than 62,000 housing units to meet current and future needs, according to a housing assessment from public policy firm ECOnorthwest.
What to know about voting in the Primary Election
Most Tucson voters will vote by mail. Early voting starts July 9. The last day to drop your ballot in the mail is July 30. Primary Election Day is Aug. 5.
Helpful links:
- Check your voter registration
- Find out which city ward you live in
- See a list of ballot drop-off and voting sites
Independents
Registered independent voters can vote in this partisan primary, either by returning a postcard indicating whether they want to receive a Democratic or Republican ballot or by contacting the City Clerk’s office at 520-791-4213 or cityclerk@tucsonaz.gov. The deadline to request a ballot is July 23. After that, independent voters can vote at any voting location on Election Day.
The city council passed a new zoning tool to address this issue, and has worked to purchase old motels to redevelop into affordable housing.
Yet, with more than 2,000 people living without housing in Tucson, the treatment and placement of this vulnerable community are constant points of discussion. In the heart of Ward 5, dozens of people were kicked out of Santa Rita Park, where they were camping. Most recently, city officials passed a new ordinance criminalizing sleeping in washes and made it illegal for people to stand in certain medians.
On one hand, some critics say the city’s approach destabilizes and puts the community at further risk, especially amid extreme heat. While others criticize the amount of resources the city has put toward the issue and its unsatisfactory results.
More people are finding shelter and fewer are living on the streets, but the number of chronically homeless people has grown by more than 5% since 2024, according to the 2025 Point-In-Time Count by the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness.
Research from the University of Arizona shows that homelessness in Tucson persists in part because of a housing system that makes rental or homeownership access unaffordable, the ongoing flow of people into homelessness through eviction and high rent, and a homeless service system that means many people never receive any help.
Here is where the candidates stand on the issue:
Barajas said the main concern she hears is about housing and its availability. She wants to address housing issues in a generational manner.
“A lot of folks that grew up in Ward 5 want to go back and purchase their first-time home. So I want to figure out ways to get them those opportunities … we might have to think strategically like some private-public partnerships,” she said.
Additionally, she wants to ensure older homeowners have proper estate planning with their families to prevent displacement when properties change hands.
Barajas says homelessness is a complex issue without a single clear solution.
“Everyone’s situation is different,” she said, citing examples of conversations she has had with residents facing barriers like addiction, mental illness, lack of ID, criminal records, or pet ownership that keeps them from accessing existing shelters.
Different situations require different pathways, she said.
Barajas proposes working with existing nonprofits and programs to develop holistic approaches tailored to people’s unique situations. One example is a program connecting people with jobs in industries that are struggling to meet their labor requirements. She supports investing in more shelter beds and cooling spaces with dignity, programming, and a clear path toward stability, not just temporary relief.
“There has to be something where we plug folks into mental health services, drug, counseling, family counseling, domestic violence,” she said.
Elsner wants a multi-layered response that combines prevention, compassion and long-term housing solutions. He said not everyone is unhoused for the same reason, some are working families or seniors on fixed incomes who are pushed into homelessness by rising rents, medical bills, or unexpected financial setbacks. In these situations, preventive solutions like rent stabilization, emergency rental assistance and property tax relief for seniors could reduce inflow into homelessness and be more cost-effective than interventions once people are already on the street.
“Once people are out on the street, their problems are magnified exponentially,” Elsner said, noting how homelessness can trigger medical crises, addiction or legal barriers to rehousing.
He opposes criminalizing homelessness, advocating instead for compassionate strategies that balance public safety with dignity for unhoused residents. “We want to have compassion. They’re human beings like us,” he said.
Elsner wants better coordination among Tucson’s nonprofits, arguing that service organizations are doing valuable work but could benefit from stronger city leadership to reduce overlap and improve access through a triage-style system.
On the broader housing crisis, Elsner said the lack of affordable housing is a root driver of homelessness. He pointed to skyrocketing property values over the last five years and called for removing bureaucratic barriers to housing development, especially along high-density corridors. He supports the city’s new community corridors zoning tool and suggests exploring creative housing models, like shared ownership programs modeled after initiatives in Boston, to help multiple individuals or families co-purchase homes.
Elsner is also open to new ideas like the “humane huts” pilot program proposed by other council members as temporary shelter. He supports increased city funding for community services, arts, addiction recovery and mental health programs tied to homelessness response.
“There’s no easy answer,” he said. “But we need to listen to the community, think creatively, and do what we can with the limited resources we have.”
Lugo said he supported creating service hubs to help people experiencing homelessness access housing, food and education — pointing to the H.S. Lopez Center of Opportunity as a successful model, at an NAACP candidate forum. He described homelessness as a public health issue and urged the community to find solutions that connect people with the care they need.
A bumpy ride: how would candidates fix Tucson’s roads?
Tucson residents often voice frustration about the poor conditions of the local roads, from potholes to delayed expansion projects or unprotected bike lanes.
Much of that work has been funded by Proposition 101, a half-cent sales tax approved in 2017 that will eventually collect $250 million. Of that money, $100 million is being used for road improvements, according to the city. Of that $100 million, 60% will go to major roads, while 40% is slated for local street improvement. So far, the project has completed 96% of its total 897 lane miles.
Barajas’ strategy for roads and infrastructure improvement spotlights transparency and community involvement. She wants to audit the current list of streets in Ward 5 that are either waiting for Capital Improvement Plan funding or haven’t yet been included, despite repeated complaints from residents.
She also wants representation on city boards and commissions. She noted that Ward 5’s seat on the Complete Streets Committee was vacant for years, limiting the ward’s ability to advocate for critical infrastructure improvements.
“It’s hard when the city has these resources but no one is at the table to push for them,” she said.
To address this, Barajas said she would ensure Ward 5 residents are represented in city processes and trained on how to advocate for their neighborhoods. She plans to host community workshops to help residents understand how to request traffic safety measures and street improvements.
In addition to repaving and traffic safety, Barajas wants to look at other infrastructure like street lighting.
“A lot of residents have told me the lights aren’t working. It’s really dark,” she said. “That doesn’t create a safe environment.”
Elsner wants the city to have a more effective approach to infrastructure projects, including better oversight of contractors. He suggests Tucson adopt “damage liquidity” clauses, or penalties for contractors who miss deadlines, to improve accountability and ensure timely project completion.
“Why don’t we do that in Tucson?” he said. “That seems like a fine idea to either make sure stuff is getting done on time, and if it’s not, that we’re recouping the cost and inconvenience.”
He also urges the city to review its grant procurement and development processes to identify bottlenecks and improve efficiency.
“We need to be more effective in government so people see the results of the taxes they pay.”
Lugo says on his website: “Our roads have been neglected for too long. It’s time we place long-term goals and objectives in our budget process to address robust road construction and maintenance policies that will insure safe roads in our neighborhoods and thoroughfares. We must add dollars from the general fund to existing [Highway User Revenue Funds (HURF)] for arterial and neighborhood street maintenance and repaving.”
Debate videos
League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson candidate forum
Democrats of Greater Tucson candidate Q&A events
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