KUAT Channel 6 reporters Christopher Conover and Andrea Kelly sat down with Democratic Mayoral candidate Jonathan Rothschild to discuss his candidacy tonight. Click here for the interview.

Attorney Rothschild started exploring a run for Mayor last September, 2010 (click here for previous blog) and announced his candidacy in January, 2011 (click here).

Rothschild is a Tucson native, graduate of Tucson High School, Kenyon College, and the University of New Mexico Law School. He has also served as Adjunct Professor at the James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona. He has been the managing partner at his law firm, Mesch, Clark & Rothschild, which was founded by his father Lowell, also an attorney in Tucson.

“Jonathan has a long history of extensive service with local non-profits – as a leader and a worker. He has served in various capacities, including Board President of Casa de los Ninos, Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging, and Temple Emanu-El.

He is a member of the Tucson Parks & Recreation Commission and currently serves as Chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council. Jonathan has also served on the Boards of the Tucson Medical Center Foundation, Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Friends of the University Libraries, University of Arizona and the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona.”

Rothschild has never run for political office before, but has served as Treasurer of the Pima County Democratic Party in the past.

Campaign website: www.jonathanformayor.com,
Jonathan Rothschild for Mayor
P.O. Box 2463
Tucson, AZ 85702
520-370-6571
jr@jonathanformayor.com

He faces Republican Rick Grinnell (click here for KUAT interview on September 9) and Green Mary DeCamp (KUAT interview scheduled for October 6) for Mayor of Tucson.

More than 150 business & professional leaders attended last night’s kick off fundraiser at Etherton Gallery, 135 S. 6th Avenue in downtown Tucson to meet possible Mayoral candidate Jonathan Rothschild, a Tucson attorney with no prior political experience. Rothschild has served as Treasurer or the Pima County Democratic Party and is a partner in his law firm Mesch, Clark & Rothschild.

Terry Etherton, owner of the gallery welcomed the crowd and said that it was “time for a change” and a “new voice.” Then Dr Laura Elias de la Torre (Campaign Chair) spoke of being a 5th generation Tucsonan and that she has been “waiting for someone to bring her home back to her.” She said she has confidence that Jonathan “understands Tucson from his heart.”

Then the potential candidate revealed that over the past 3 months, lots of people have asked him “Why run for Mayor?” He said that the why is tied in to “people and place”, that he wants to move Tucson forward and revitalize it, by utilizing all its resources. He felt confident that he could provide the “vision, hard work, and leadership that Tucson needs.” Jonathan pledged to listen to all people, rich or poor, to tell them where he stands on issues, and then to listen once again, and to take responsibility for decisions.

Finally attorney Elliot Glicksman spoke enthusiastically that knew that Jonathan is a good problem-solver and has been “involved in all aspects of the community.”

Attending tonight (at least during the hour/half I was there) were Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall, former Tucson City Councilmember Chuck Ford, TUSD Governing board member Dr.Mark Stegeman, LD 27 House primary candidate Sami Hamed, aide to Congressman Raul Grijalva. I recognized a lot of attorneys and doctors at this event as well, and many Democratic party activists. For my earlier blog (click here) with a list of other early supporters.

Jonathan Rothschild (left) at work

Questions about this exploratory committee can be directed to Jonathan at jr@jonathanformayor.com, website www.jonathanformayor.com. Besides raising money, this committee is already soliciting volunteers for the potential political campaign.

Stay tuned to find out if Jonathan will actually run for Mayor of the City of Tucson.
His final words tonight were that he wanted to bring people together and “restore public trust”, wise words indeed in the wake of the recent Rio Nuevo fiscal audit.

Jonathan Rothschild, J.D.

An attorney with the law firm of Mesch, Clark & Rothschild, Jonathan Rothschild has served as managing partner since 2001. A political newcomer, he is now exploring a run for Mayor of Tucson. Rothschild is a Tucson native, graduate of Tucson High School, Kenyon College, and the University of New Mexico Law School. He has also served as Adjunct Professor at the James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona.

More information from his website www.jonathanformayor.com (“New Energy, New Perspective” is his theme):

“Jonathan has a long history of extensive service with local non-profits – as a leader and a worker. He has served in various capacities, including Board President of Casa de los Ninos, Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging, and Temple Emanu-El.

He is a member of the Tucson Parks & Recreation Commission and currently serves as Chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council. Jonathan has also served on the Boards of the Tucson Medical Center Foundation, Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Friends of the University Libraries, University of Arizona and the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona.”

Jonathan is active in the Pima County Democratic Party and has served as its Treasurer in the past. For a very long list of his early supporters (including former Mayors George Miller and Tom Volgy) go online to his website.

The other possible candidates for Mayor may be 4 term Democratic Councilmember Shirley Scott (Ward 4), or 2 term Democratic Councilmember Karin Uhlich (Ward 3). Current Republican Mayor Bob Walkup (more…)