Tucson Opinion: Rooted in District 5, and ready to lead

It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as the newly appointed Pima County Supervisor for District 5 — which includes midtown, downtown, the west and south sides, and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.

Following the example of David Yetman, Raúl Grijalva, Richard Elías, Betty Villegas, and Adelita Grijalva, I step into this role with deep humility and appreciation — and with a bold, people-first vision for what comes next in District 5.

My path to public service began at age 14, as a county Summer Youth Program intern. I was raised in Section 8 housing by a single mom and supported by my Nana Rosa, who worked a minimum-wage job at a local factory. When my grandmother died from toxic workplace exposure — and her employer refused to help — our community organized. We didn’t win that fight, but it left me with a lasting lesson early-on: Local government can either protect people or fail them.

That realization lit a fire in me. I went on to serve nearly seven years in the District 5 office under the late Supervisor Richard Elías, where I learned that real change is built through compassionate, persistent service — one phone call, one constituent, one tough conversation at a time.

At 26, I was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives and later served as House Minority Leader. I helped pass a bipartisan $18 billion state budget alongside Governor Hobbs and Republican lawmakers — securing record investments in the state’s Housing Trust Fund, expanding KidsCare eligibility to lower health care costs, and advancing clean water infrastructure in a time of extreme drought. I also led the charge to repeal a law that unfairly shifted state juvenile detention costs to Pima County, saving local taxpayers millions.

Following my legislative service, I earned a Master of Public Administration and returned home to serve as the City of Tucson’s Director of Federal and State Relations. In that role, I worked closely with our federal, state, and tribal partners to advocate for investments in infrastructure, public safety, and water treatment.

Now, as your Supervisor, I bring this full-circle experience to a county facing urgent challenges.

Federal cuts — driven by Donald Trump and Elon Musk — are squeezing our budget and forcing impossible choices. In District 5, families like mine are being priced out of their homes. Many of our neighbors are working two or three jobs and still can’t afford rent, food, or medical care. We need urgent action — and we need it close to home.

That’s why I’m focused on delivering real results: promoting high-paying jobs, creating a strong economy, safeguarding our public health and safety, supporting county workers, and guiding growth through the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan so that every Pima County family — regardless of zip code— can build a life of stability, dignity, and opportunity.

But good ideas mean nothing without listening. In the weeks and months ahead, I’ll be on the ground attending neighborhood meetings, hosting community roundtables, and staying rooted in the real conversations that define District 5. I look forward to crossing paths in this next chapter.

Additionally, I’m deeply grateful to my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors— Rex Scott, Matt Heinz, and Jennifer Allen — for entrusting me with this opportunity. I look forward to working with each of them — and with my Republican colleague, Steve Christy — to serve all Pima County residents.

Lastly, I also want to thank the fellow applicants who stepped forward for this appointment — Lewis, Richard, Kimberly, Cynthia, and Karla. Their commitment to our community reflects the kind of heart and hope that keeps Pima County moving forward.

Eighteen years ago, I stepped into a Pima County building unsure of what the future held. Today, I return — humbled, prepared, and ready to serve.

Let’s get to work.