Councilman Rodney Glassman will spend nearly four months away from the Tucson City Council later this year to become a lawyer in the Air Force Reserve.
Glassman will be away June, July, August and part of September to attend commissioned-officer and military-justice training outside Tucson. He will become a first lieutenant judge advocate general in the Air Force Reserve, with a commitment of six years.
He said Thursday that he will still be available via phone and e-mail on nights and weekends during his training, adding that he will attend the council meetings he will miss in person via telephone.
"It's my intention to participate telephonically while I'm away at my Air Force training," Glassman said.
"I'm confident the office team that I've assembled — as well as my participation by telephone and e-mail — will ensure our constituents receive the highest quality of service."
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Glassman will miss attending in person six council meetings, four in June, one in August and one in September. The council "goes dark" during late summer, otherwise Glassman would miss more meetings.
Once done with training, Glassman will have to serve one weekend a month and two weeks out of the year on reserve duty. He could also be called to active military duty.
City Clerk Roger Randolph said Glassman has already signed up to attend the meetings by telephone.
Only one council member at a time can attend a meeting by telephone, Randolph said, adding that there is no longer a limit to the number of meetings a council member can attend via telephone per year.
While attending the meetings by phone, Glassman will be able to take part in council discussions and cast his vote.
Glassman said he was sworn in to the military program Tuesday morning. He said this is a chance to serve his country and he wants to take the opportunity to join while he still has the chance.
"It's an exciting opportunity for me to serve our country and practice the law," Glassman said. "This is an opportunity I feel compelled to take."
He said he had considered joining the Air Force in 2002 but instead went to work for Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., in Washington, D.C.
After graduating law school in 2007 and passing the Arizona bar exam last year, Glassman lost 60 pounds to meet weight requirements for the Air Force.
He declined to say whether joining the Air Force Reserve would help further his political career.
"I'm doing this because I'm excited about serving my country and practicing law to help people," Glassman said.
He said it would give him more legal expertise and opportunities in the legal field.
Glassman said he had pursued this opportunity "in a quiet manner" and had not planned on an announcement until all the details were finalized.
Other council members could not be reached for comment about Glassman's four-month leave from the city.
However, Donna Branch-Gilby, a former Pima County Democratic Party chairwoman, said she felt Glassman was needed on the council, "especially during this time of economic crisis."
Branch-Gilby said the city has serious challenges like its Downtown Rio Nuevo redevelopment district, for which the Legislature is threatening to cut money, and a huge budget deficit.
Branch-Gilby was also critical of then-state Rep. Jonathan Paton in 2006 when Paton, a Republican, missed much of that year's legislative election campaign while serving in Iraq.
"The city needs (Glassman's) smarts and energy," Branch-Gilby said. "Given everything the city is facing, the city needs him on the City Council."
Glassman said his office will continue to serve the community well.
"I have put together a spectacular Ward 2 office," Glassman said.
"They have a demonstrated track record of serving the city of Tucson with the same level of quality we have so far."
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