With music, poetry and blessings from local tribal leaders, Tucson welcomed a new and diverse City Council on Tuesday — the first with five women and a growing representation of queer leaders and Latina officials.
The hopeful, community-centered ceremony quickly turned to business as the new council’s first vote narrowly returned Lane Santa Cruz to the vice mayor’s seat.
The Tucson City Council inaugurated two new members — Selina Barajas and Miranda Schubert — as well as incumbent Kevin Dahl during a ceremony Tuesday.
Mariachi Aztlán from Pueblo High School played in the lobby of the Tucson Convention Center as people waited to enter the ballroom. Tucson Water was among several city departments handing out swag and information at booths set up in the room.
The ceremony opened with Tucson poet laureate TC Tolbert, who invoked his identity as a queer trans person seeking acceptance in the city after moving from Tennessee.
“Tucson is full of people with expansive hearts and minds, people and leaders who reach across perceived differences. This is a city that embraces queer and trans people and especially queer and trans youth and queer and trans elders,” Tolbert said. He dedicated his following speech, “At the Base of the Black Hill,” to “migrants of every nationality, of every race, of every identity.”
The Tucson Fire Department, Honor Guard Pipes and Drums, the Tohono O’odham Honor Guard, and the Pascua Yaqui Honor Guard followed with the posting of colors before Tohono O’Odham Nation Chair Verlon Jose delivered an opening speech in Oʼodham.
“In my language I talked about how special this day is to recognize the individuals of this government that have the responsibility for the children and the elders and everyone all of us, the people,” Chair Jose said. Vice Chairwoman Carla Johnson and Pascua Yaqui Chairman Julian Hernandez spoke following Jose.
Council members thanked retiring members Karin Uhlich and Rocque Perez, who were appointed to fill vacant seats after their predecessors left office. Uhlich, who wasn’t present at the inauguration, replaced Ward 6 Council Member Steve Kozachik after he left for a county position.
“It’s been an honor to get to learn from her. She was first elected in 2003 and was the first out queer person on the city council,” Ward 1 council member Lane Santa Cruz said about Uhlich. “It’s important to say that because it opened up, you know, a pathway for more of us to get elected and to not be afraid to be all of who we are in front of this very public stage.”
Perez replaced Ward 5 council member Richard Fimbres when he retired after 15 years on the council.
“He was a natural,” Ward 3 council member Kevin Dahl said about Perez. “He is a consummate elected official and did so much good here in the short six months he was with us.”
Reelected council member Dahl was sworn in by City Clerk Suzanne Mesich, while newly-elected Ward 5 councilwoman Selina Barajas was sworn in by her daughter, Sofia Barajas, and mother Gracie Rodriguez. Barajas is the first woman to serve as city council member from Ward 5.
“I stand here today carrying the voices, hopes, and dreams of generations of Tucsonans, voices that deserve to be part of every decision we make. Together, we can build a Tucson that honors where we come from, responds to the realities our families face daily, and looks ahead with intention and courage,” Barajas said following her oath.
Ward 6 council member Schubert, accompanied by her wife Maass, was sworn in by her mom Debra Deatherage.
“We are putting together an amazing team at the Ward 6 office. And we’re so excited to build collegial and effective relationships with the many city departments, offices, and workers who make this city go,” Schubert said.
The new council proceeded with its first vote following the oaths: picking a vice mayor.
While Ward 4 council member Nikki Lee moved to elect Ward 2 council member Paul Cunningham as vice mayor, new council member Schubert proposed a substitute motion to vote Santa Cruz for reelection. Barajas seconded Schubert’s motion, which passed 4-3 with Cunningham, Dahl and Lee voting in opposition — possibly signaling how the all-Democratic council could split on future decisions
Mayor Regina Romero, introduced by Milta Ortiz, gave her address to Tucsonans following the vote.
“It’s a happy day for Tucson! We just made history in welcoming five women to the council — the most we’ve ever had!” Romero said in her opening. She highlighted the council’s diversity, noting that there are now three Latinas and two queer colleagues.
“I think it’s just the most diverse council we’ve ever had and and I’m so so proud and happy to serve alongside my colleagues on the council,” she said.
Romero highlighted initiatives moved forward by the council, including the Safe City Initiative and the use of opioid settlement funds for diversion projects and recovery facilities.
“Our Safe City Initiative is an umbrella that holds all of the innovative services we have been providing to Tucsonans for the last six years, and adds new solutions through innovation, collaboration, and the smart use of our resources,” she said.
She also mentioned the strong use of public transportation in the city and the RTA Next Plan.
“Every great city has a great transportation system that provides multiple modes of safe and accessible transportation to all residents, whether you make your daily commute by foot, bike, bus or car,” she said. “That is why I believe that the RTA Next is an important step in transportation funding. We need to continue investing in ourselves and in our future.”
She spoke about economic growth and progress in the wake of the current political climate.
“We need to continue to lock arms, move forward together, invest in ourselves, and have the necessary conversations about how we do so when we don’t have the support of the federal government or our state legislature,” she said, ending her speech. “In Tucson, we choose community over chaos. We choose compassion over fear.”
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