The Pima County Board of Supervisors has a complicated puzzle of oversight in their efforts to make sure Arizona’s second-most populous county runs smoothly.
Their work overlaps heavily with the localities in the region, in particular the city of Tucson — the two governmental bodies recently held a rare joint meeting to address housing issues.
At the same time, there are a few big areas where they go it alone: they have primary oversight over the county jail, as well as overseeing funding for the sheriff’s department and library district.
Elected to four-year terms, board members also approve the county budget, an extensive document that sets tax rates among other things.
We asked county supervisors what they most hope to achieve in their role this year, what tools of information would help them make this happen and what county government work deserves more attention or public awareness.
Here is what they said:
Supervisor Rex Scott, District 1
The most significant policy document the county board develops and passes each year is the county budget, Scott told Luminaria. The board will work with staff in the budget planning process.
Last year’s budget included increased spending for the sheriff’s department and an unchanged tax rate.
For the more than 200,000 constituents Scott represents, he said, “my responsibility to the people of District 1 each year is to be their advocate and voice within county government.”
District 1 includes Oro Valley and parts of Marana.
That includes quickly responding to complaints and meeting regularly with leadership from different county departments.
The board will also begin the process to hire a new county administrator to replace Jan Lesher, who will retire at the end of 2026. The county has had only two people in that position since 1993, said Scott — Jan Lesher and Chuck Huckelberry.
“Given the stability and continuity we have had in that role for the last 33 years, it is vital that we make the right call as to who we entrust with this key job,” said Scott.
Beyond that, Scott hopes to make sure constituents are well informed about the work the county does on their behalf. His office sends out regular newsletters, but Scott also hosts a podcast
series. Inside Pima County with Supervisor Rex Scott comes out every week and includes interviews with department leaders: listen here or watch here.
Supervisor Jen Allen, District 2
Allen joined the board as a long-time advocate and organizer with a plan to work towards some proactive changes for Pima County communities, but this period has also meant defending them, she said.
That has included helping to coordinate a forum about a proposed Marana immigration detention center that helped coalesce a group now committed to blocking the center.
“Upholding our community’s dignity and ensuring that all of our communities, be it rural, urban, border, or sovereign nations, can have access to prosperity so that people can thrive and have some safety.”
District 2 includes much of central Tucson as well as Sahuarita.
The pressure on the county budget from both federal cuts and the state’s flat tax are also a challenge, said Allen. “It’s diminishing returns from the state,” she said. “We’re going to see more costs shifted to local governments like ours. As revenue diminishes, we’ve got less funding to work with to meet the needs of our community.”
Allen says she wants residents to see what the county is doing to address some of the deeply-rooted structural problems with solutions that go beyond the usual reliance on law enforcement or incarceration. That includes the Pima Prosperity Initiative, a plan designed to tackle generational poverty, the Sobering Alternative For Recovery Center that accepts referrals for medication-assisted treatment, as well as the expanded access to the Transition Center at the jail.
“The county is working to really fire on all cylinders in this fight to address root causes… and create economic opportunity,” said Allen.
Supervisor Andrés Cano, District 5
Cano is looking forward to implementing the One Pima Initiative, a framework he developed and introduced, to approach fentanyl and opioid addiction as a public health problem.
“We are prioritizing cleanup and ongoing maintenance of shared spaces like the Loop, paired with a stronger safety plan for residents and trail users,” he said. “At the same time, we are expanding outreach, treatment and recovery pathways, diversion options, and housing solutions to ensure people in crisis have a solid pathway to stability.”
That work includes strengthening treatment options, Cano said. He also pointed to the recently opened Sobering Alternative For Recovery Center that accepts referrals for medication-assisted treatment, as well as the expanded access at the Transition Center at the jail.
Those efforts are “connecting justice-involved individuals to life-saving treatment, housing options, and health care access at a critical moment of transition,” he said. “One Pima’s goal is straightforward: restore public spaces, reduce harm, and improve quality of life by pairing accountability with services and coordination.”
District 5 includes parts of the west side of Tucson and Saguaro National Park West.
Cano would like to see the Pima County libraries receive more recognition for their community anchor role that includes helping seniors, students, job seekers and anyone looking for a way to get online.
“Our libraries are often the first place people turn to for personal growth and improvement — whether that is access to technology and Wi-Fi, support navigating online services, booking a study room, resume and job-search assistance, or digital literacy support,” he wrote in an email response to Luminaria.
That can also help people understand how county government supports goals like digital literacy and workforce readiness, he said.
“This work does not always make headlines, but it has a profound impact on daily life.”
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