Local opinion: A Republican can, and will, be elected mayor

The idea that a Republican candidate cannot get elected in Tucson is a misnomer and as bad a marketing campaign as those yellow signs littering our medians. In fact, a Republican candidate can, has, and will be elected as mayor in the 2023 election.

Janet “JL” Wittenbraker will assuredly be the next mayor of Tucson if conservative-minded voters return their ballots. Tucson let’s face it, you’re bad at voting. We need every Republican and conservative Independent, Party Not Declared, Libertarian and, YES, Democrat to vote Wittenbraker so we can take back Tucson.

I met JL shortly after she decided to run for mayor of Tucson. With just three weeks left to submit petition signatures, she stepped up. JL knew if she didn’t act, it would be a repeat of 2019 and the Democrat would win the seat. JL almost doubled the required signatures and easily made the ballot. This shows city residents want a change of mayor.

The City of Tucson primary election was Aug. 1, and although JL was unopposed, voter turnout was 20% higher than past years and she beat Mayor Walkup’s best by 2,000 votes. If you still think a Republican candidate can’t win in Tucson, you’ve drank the Kool-Aid.

JL is a graduate of Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and has 35+ years of professional experience including code enforcement, city government, specifically the Tucson City Manager’s Office, and contracts administration.

Moreover, JL has a true compassion for the people of Tucson and will not stand for the lawlessness that is destroying our community.

As a business owner who has thousands of happy customers in the city, outside of the city, and outside of the county, I am worried about the city’s future. Tucson cannot continue the way it’s going and if we don’t take control via our vote, we will lose our tourist industry next.

Crime, homelessness, and poor road conditions are all too common in the Old Pueblo. The cost of retail theft is evident in the empty boarded-up buildings around town. A gutted city police force due to mandates and lack of Mayor and council support have created a perfect storm for the death spiral to worsen. Tucson cannot afford four more years of this Mayor and council’s failed policies.

Not only is JL imbued with strong character she is also willing to do the hard work it will take to reverse this trajectory.

My colleagues in the business community and customer base join me in my support for JL Wittenbraker because they know she has what it takes to restore Tucson to the diamond in the desert it once was.