Patch Candidate Profile: Lucy Libosha For Tucson City Council

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TUCSON, AZ – The Independent Lucy Libosha is one of three candidates running for District 3 of Tucson City Council in the November 2nd election.

Her opponents are Democrat Kevin Dahl and Republican Alan Harwell Jr., Democrat Karin Uhlich, who is not running for re-election, currently represents Ward 3. She was appointed in March to serve the remainder of the term after her Democrat Paul Durham on account of personal reasons.

Patch has asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be posting candidate profiles in the coming weeks. The answers have been edited slightly in terms of style, spelling, and grammar.

Age (on election day): 53

Job wanted: Tucson City Council 3

Party affiliation: Independent

Family: Pepper – my 7 year old border collie, lab mix

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? no

Education: Masters of Arts – Arts Education, Bachelor of Arts – Visual Arts, League of Cycling Instructors

Job: Math teacher – 19 years

Previous or current elected or appointed office: N / A

Campaign website: Lucy4CityCouncil.com

Why are you looking for an election office?

I am a versatile candidate, an active member of my community, and passionate about improving the lives of Tucson people and our common interests. Boards / committees I’ve been on: City of Tucson’s Complete Streets Coordinating Committee, Move Tucson, BICAS, Prop 206, Sugarhill Land Trust.

I’ve worked on several local candidate campaigns and lived in four different Tucson districts before buying my home. As a working class woman who grew up in poverty, I have overcome many obstacles as an marginalized woman of color. I can recognize, empathize, and have the courage to work for the necessary change and growth in Tucson for the entire community. Tucson voters and taxpayers deserve a responsive leader who listens and acts according to the will of the people.

The most pressing problem our council faces is _______ and that is what I want to do about it. Choices made in Phoenix that directly affect Tucsonan’s residents (e.g., affordable housing). As an independent, I intend to build bridges through public relations and communication. Tucson isn’t just a Democratic city, it’s not a Republican city, it’s the City of Tucson. For too long, Phoenix-Tucson relations have been strained to the detriment of Arizona’s two largest cities.

What are the key differences between you and the other candidates seeking this position? My well-rounded experience in Tucson, my life experiences, and my courage to work with others to make changes to improve my community sets me apart from the rest of the candidates. Representing Tucson residents as a councilor is an extension of the work I have been involved in and will continue to grow through politics.

If you are a challenger, how has the current officer or incumbent let down the ward (or district or constituency)? How do you think local officials are reacting to the coronavirus? What if you did something differently? The city of Tucson is a microcosm of Arizona and Arizona is a microcosm of our country as a whole. The national leadership has politicized, hacked and broken down a global pandemic into belief systems. Needless to say, many lives are lost and that is an accountability issue. Going forward, Tucson must involve all stakeholders, workers and the community to create sensible and responsible solutions that incorporate science-based solutions in the face of the politicized predicament.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. The vision of our campaign: Invest (in people, not in developers), Connect (neighbors, neighborhoods and businesses) and Uplift (Tucson). – Deals with basic needs (food, clothing, shelter and participation). Expand programs. -Improvement and expansion of mass transport. Address climate change through a social justice perspective.

What past accomplishments would you cite as evidence that you can handle this job? -Educator – communication skills, collaboration skills. Army – skills of cooperation, work with different communities. Tucson City Committees – Understanding Tucson Organizational Systems. Campaigns / Committees – Tucson Community Service – The councilor role is an extension (through politics) of community service.

The best advice I’ve ever given was: Representation counts. A representation in Tucson is urgently needed.

What else would you like to tell the voters about yourself and your positions?

I am transparent. My appointment to Tucson City Council is to advance the needs of taxpayers, voters, and community members. As a woman of color, I’m not afraid to question the status quo.

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