Local opinion: Sadie Shaw leads with the courage Ward 3 needs now

They call her “Squeaky Wheel Shaw” because Sadie speaks up, shows up, and gets things done.

I’ve worked alongside Sadie for years in both government and grassroots spaces. I’ve watched her lead with integrity, build trust where trust was broken, and bring new people into civic life with real power to shape solutions, not just to be tokenized or appeased. And I’ve seen firsthand the kind of moral clarity she brings to public service. In her second term on the TUSD school board, she’s taken courageous votes, including voting against the untested use of AI in classrooms. She did this not because she opposes innovation, but because she knows our kids are not guinea pigs; they deserve safety and care.

Some critics confuse Sadie’s youth with inexperience. But let’s be clear: she has more elected experience than her opponent. She’s served longer in office, made difficult decisions in public, and faced the consequences head-on. She’s not backed by insiders or political consultants. She’s backed by the people who keep this city running: AFSCME Local 449, CWA Local 7000, the Working Families Party, Pima County Young Democrats, and the Tucson Democratic Socialists of America. Sadie represents Tucson’s Mamdani moment, a rare opportunity to elect someone who doesn’t just sound progressive but actually governs that way.

I’ve worked in both city and county government during the onset and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I’ve seen how our systems operate in moments of crisis and quiet neglect. I’ve also experienced houselessness as a teenager and spent years helping my family and others navigate Tucson’s fragmented social services. I know what it looks like when decisions are made without the people they affect. Sadie insists on changing that. She centers lived experience in every phase of public problem solving, from identifying what’s broken to building what’s better. She doesn’t believe in wasting public dollars on top-down solutions that look good on paper but fail in practice. She brings those most impacted into the room to co-create what truly works.

We need that courage now more than ever, especially as Tucson prepares to vote on Project Blue, a massive data center development that would use staggering amounts of water and electricity while delivering few community benefits. Kevin Dahl has begun to posture against the project, and maybe he’ll vote the right way. But I can’t afford to gamble on that. This is the same councilmember who pulled a flawed water deal from the consent agenda, expressed concerns, wrote an op-ed about it, and still voted yes. That pattern gives me pause. We’ve seen him vote for Prop 414, support criminalizing median standing, and back the closure of parks used by unhoused residents. When he finally spoke out against the city’s camping ban, I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d have done so without a challenger in the race.

I’m glad Kevin is speaking up more now. I’m glad he’s moving left. But it’s too little, too late for me to believe he’ll show up when it really matters, when it’s not politically convenient or when there’s something to lose.

Sadie shows up. She’s already stood up publicly for trans youth, for a ceasefire in Gaza, and for a Tucson where city government reflects the realities of working people. She’s committed to dedicating staff time in her council office to unhoused outreach, not as a side project but as a core function of responsive government.

Sadie’s not running on her identity, but her victory would make history. Representation matters, especially now, when so many of our neighbors are being pushed further from power. Sadie is grounded, visionary, and principled. That’s exactly who we need on the council.

Sadie Shaw doesn’t wait for the political winds to shift. She leads with courage and brings community with her. That’s why I’m proud to support her.