Eleonor Leon, 57, and her son Enoch Spiro, 27, saw Tuesday’s election as an opportunity to advocate for the South Tucson community they returned to after being priced out of housing in Tucson.
The mother and son, both artists, spoke about rising rents, homelessness and the challenges of making a living in the arts.
Leon, who grew up on Tucson’s southwest side and moved to South Tucson in June 2025, said she came out to support incumbent South Tucson City Council members Brian Flagg and Cesar Aguirre.
Their connection to Flagg goes beyond politics. Leon said Casa Maria, the nonprofit where Flagg has long worked, helped her family when they were struggling financially and trying to get back on their feet.
“That’s why I’m here today, because I want people to know that I’m here and that I’m trying to make a difference,” Leon said.
Leon previously owned La Fashionista, a downtown Tucson business that hosted fashion shows and brought together local artists. She said opportunities for artists have dwindled over the years, making it increasingly difficult to support herself through her work.
Housing costs also pushed the family out of Tucson for a time. Spiro said they moved to Benson in search of cheaper rent before finding a way to return.
“The moment we were able to find any kind of other housing that opened up in Tucson, we left,” Spiro said. “But I’d say the problem still persists.”
Now living in South Tucson, Leon said she wants elected officials to focus on affordable housing, public safety and helping people experiencing homelessness. She also wants residents to take a more active role in improving their neighborhoods.
“How do we help these people get back on their feet instead of just talking about them?” she asked.
For Spiro, who creates animations, comics and paintings, the election was also an opportunity to express frustration with local government. He said he wants leaders to do more to address homelessness and the cost of living.
This election, he’s supporting Daniel Butierez, the Republican candidate for Congress in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District. He said Butierez’s approach to homelessness and addiction resonated with him, particularly his emphasis on mental health services and drug treatment.
“Butierez, I think, is more concerned. He actually wants people to go to detox centers to get off these drugs,” Spiro said.
Spiro said Butierez’s personal experience with homelessness gives him a perspective that he believes is missing from local leadership. “I think that really makes him even more so qualified to try to fix the problem,” he said.
Despite their frustrations, Leon said she believes change begins with neighbors helping one another, whether through volunteering, cleaning up streets or connecting people with resources.
“We give of ourselves, of our time, talking to people that someone does not even say hello to,” she said. “I would really like to see, with our vote today, some change, some real change — people who really care.”
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