Ben Buehler -Garcia

Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia filed a campaign finance Statement of Organization on 2/22/13 to challenge 2 term Councilmember Karin Uhlich in the Ward 3 race.

As a political newcomer he ran against incumbent Democrat Uhlich four years ago in 2009, and lost by 175 votes (33,782 to 33,607). Green party candidate Mary DeCamp got 4,429 votes in that three-way race. Uhlich was first elected in 2005 by defeating Republican incumbent Kathleen Dunbar in Ward 3.

Biography from the candidate:

Ben Buehler-Garcia is a 34 year resident of Tucson and Ward III. He first came to Tucson in order to attend the University of Arizona where he earned a degree in Public Administration with a Criminal Justice minor.

Ben has 25 years professional experience in Economic & Community development, serving 9 years in a management role at the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

For the last 16 years he has been self-employed, providing Economic & Community Development Planning, Small Business Advocacy and Non-Profit Consulting Services.

A firm believer in volunteerism and community engagement, he has been recognized with the Copper Cactus Award for Community service for his role with organizations such as the United Way, Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation, the Arizona Children’s Foundation and the Tucson Community Cares Foundation.

He also volunteered 9 years with the City of Tucson Industrial Development Authority Board of Directors and 2 years as a member of the City of Tucson Economic and Workforce Development Selection Committee. For the past 9 years he has also served as Executive Director of the Stand Up for Kids Tucson Chapter, an all-volunteer organization working with homeless teens and street kids.

2013 campaign goals by Buehler-Garcia on why he is running again:

I have a great passion for our community and it breaks my heart that it has been allowed to drift so far from its true potential.

Things have not improved; Tucson was ranked the 6th poorest large metro area in 2011 and the City of Tucson’s most recent stress index states that 29.7% of children in the City live in poverty. More than half of our residential streets are in failing or poor condition. The same study shows that Ward III is ranked highest in the incidence of burglary & domestic violence (My own property has had 6 attempted burglaries and one successful burglary!) The lowest median household income in Tucson is in Ward III.

We have a top research university, a major defense installation & manufacturer, wonderful weather and are located 50 miles from one of our nation’s largest trading partners. How is it conceivable that we are not leading the state in economic recovery rather than trailing?

I believe that much of the waste in Rio Nuevo resulted from the lack of professional knowledge and political courage. Budgeting priorities are misplaced.

City Council Wards 3, 5, and 6 are up for re-election this year, and all three Democratic Councilmembers are speaking at Democrats of Greater Tucson (click here for earlier post). No Republican opponents have filed any statements of organization as yet against Councilmembers Fimbres (Ward 5) or Councilmember Kozachik (Ward 6).

Three Tucson City Councilmembers are up for re-election this year, in Ward 3, 5, and 6. Two are scheduled to speak at Democrats of Greater Tucson (DGT) this month, with the third in March.

February 18: Steve Kozachik, Councilmember, Ward 6 – Tucson City Council -Tucson’s newest Democratic Councilmember will discuss, “Tucson’s Gun Buy-Back — The Plan, The Event, What’s Next?”

February 25: Richard Fimbres, Councilmember, Ward 5 – Tucson City Council – “Oh the Changes I’ve Seen In the Tucson City Council”

March 25: Karin Uhlich, Councilmember, Ward 3 – Tucson City Council – “Tucson’s Future”

Democrats of Greater Tucson hosts weekly speakers at their Monday luncheon meetings at Dragon’s View restaurant, 400 N. Bonita Avenue, west of I-10, south of St. Mary’s Road, at high noon. Website: http://tucsondemocrats.org/

Both Kozachik and Fimbres were elected in 2009, winning over their challengers. Then-Republican Kozachik defeated Democratic incumbent Ward 6 Councilmember Nina Trasoff, who had served one term. Democrat Fimbres faced off with Republican political newcomer Shaun McClusky, who later tried to run for Mayor of Tucson in 2011. Fimbres’ wife Mary is a Council aide for Ward 2 Councilmember Paul Cunningham and she also worked for former five term Ward 5 Councilmember Steve Leal, who retired in 2009.

Kozachik changed his registration to a Democrat on January 14, 2013, and prior to that was the sole Republican on the Tucson City Council. This is his first appearance at DGT. I reported the breaking news when he announced his change in political parties (click here).

Uhlich is a two term Councilmember, as she first defeated Republican incumbent Ward 3 Councilmember Kathleen Dunbar for that seat in 2005, then in 2009 defeated two political newcomer challengers Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia, and Green Mary DeCamp. (DeCamp ran for Mayor two years later and defeated fellow Green activist Dave Croteau in their Mayoral primary, but lost in the General to Democrat Jonathan Rothschild.)

I heard on the John C. Scott radio talk show that Buehler-Garcia may be considering a rematch with Uhlich. No other contenders have been mentioned to date, but stay tuned.

2/25/13 UPDATES: Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia has filed papers to run in the Ward 3 Council race. Click here for post about Buehler-Garcia’s candidacy.

Councilman Fimbres’ campaign kick off is on March 9, 11 a.m. at El Pueblo Senior Center, 101 W. Irvington Rd.

Ward 3 Councilmember Karin Uhlich

Ward 5 Councilmember Richard Fimbres

Ward 6 Councilmember Steve Kozachik

Councilman Steve Kozachik Announces His Re-election Campaign

Councilman Steve Kozachik

VoteKoz2013 Campaign Honorary Co-Chairs
Robert Walkup – Former Mayor (R)
Dr. Richard Carmona – Former U.S. Surgeon General (D)
Ms. Carol West – Former Tucson City Council Member (I)

Last week I formally filed papers for re-election to the Tucson City Council, Ward 6 seat. It has been my honor to serve the constituents of this Ward, and of the broader City. I look forward to continuing working on behalf of all residents of the community in the years to come. We’re just putting together the current campaign. You will be hearing more on how it will roll out in the days to come.

Over the course of the past three years I have demonstrated my willingness to study issues individually, and to advocate for policy based on the specific set of facts related to each of them, not being bound by preconceived notions or rigid ideology. The public policy issues we face are too complex to approach the task of governance in any other manner.

Through that process, I have worked with constituents who reflect all political parties. Whether the issues involve business interests, the rights of private property owners, protecting the taxpayers money, labor, or management, my approach has consistently been to listen to the multiple voices as they weigh in on a given issue and work to find the common ground that represents sound public policy.

That approach to governance has resulted in my being in a position to announce today that three highly respected members of our community, each reflecting a different place on the political spectrum have agreed to serve as Honorary Co-Chairs for my campaign. I believe their willingness to attach their names and reputations to my campaign validates the approach that I have taken to create informed and transparent public policy since 2009. I am extremely thankful to Bob Walkup, Dr. Richard Carmona, and Carol West for this showing of support. I am committed to continuing to work in a way that earns their trust, as well as that of the electorate in this community.

Contact
Ann Charles 520-977-5161
VoteKoz2013@gmail.com
rcharles@theriver.com
(520) 977-5161

Also up for re-election this year is 2 term Ward 3 Councilmember Karin Uhlich, who announced her candidacy at Democrats of Greater Tucson (DGT) on Monday, and 1 term Ward 5 Councilmember Richard Fimbres, who is seeking re-election. He is listed as a future speaker at DGT, www.tucsondemocrats.org.

Councilman Kozachik, formerly a Republican and political newcomer, defeated incumbent Democrat Nina Trasoff for the Ward 6 seat in 2009.

All three Councilmembers seeking re-election in 2013 are Democrats.