Local opinion: Honoring Jim Kolbe’s legacy: keeping the spirit of collaboration and free enterprise alive

According to Pima County statistics, our population has grown by 7.2% since 2010. Far fewer individuals resided here during the tenure of Jim Kolbe, who valiantly served us in Congress from 1985 to 2007. Having grown up in Tucson, I was fortunate to be under Jim’s mentorship, which greatly influenced my understanding of good governance. Now, I am immensely privileged to be named the inaugural Jim Kolbe Fellow by the Common Sense Institute, a non-partisan research organization committed to providing facts and data on economic policy.

In the 1980s, during my years at Utterback Middle School, I served on the newly established Congressman’s Youth Advisory Committee. This engagement furthered during high school when I interned with Jim, where, during an impressionable time in my life, I witnessed political courage in action. Following his initial term as a Republican Member of Congress, Jim and like-minded individuals boldly called for the resignation of the sitting Republican Governor, Evan Mecham. This was my first — but certainly not my last — exposure to how ugly political discourse could be and what political courage looked like. While assisting with phone duties in the office, I heard firsthand the strong convictions held by individuals from both sides of the aisle. Remarkably, Jim took to answering the phones, a testament to his humility and willingness to understand his constituents. He listened diligently, grasped the nuances of the arguments, and stood by his convictions amidst the substantial political pressure.

Transitioning to my college years at the University of Arizona, I had the opportunity to intern and work for Jim in his Washington, D.C. office. Arriving in Washington during the winter of 1991, I vividly recall the sharpshooters positioned on the rooftops of Capitol Hill amidst the backdrop of Operation Desert Storm — we were a nation at war. It was a tumultuous yet historic period, and I saw it unfold with my own eyes. Throughout the subsequent year, I observed Jim navigate the monumental challenge of steering the North American Free Trade Agreement through the House of Representatives, securing the support of 132 Republicans and 102 Democrats. This experience showed me how much perseverance was needed to champion causes one firmly believes in, especially when aiming for bipartisan support.

Now, as I near the age Jim was during those impactful years, I am inspired to be just as thoughtful about the impact of my work on future generations. I am driven to honor Jim’s legacy by sharing what he taught me about good governance. My gratitude extends to the Common Sense Institute for awarding me this fellowship, allowing me the opportunity to honor Jim’s legacy. Jim’s support for CSI stemmed from his appreciation for their mission to examine the fiscal impacts of policies, initiatives, and proposed laws, ensuring Arizonans are well-informed on the issues that impact their lives.

Jim always fought for Southern Arizona, striving to make it the best place to live, work, and raise a family. I want to do the same through this fellowship. I want to understand Southern Arizona’s issues better, what drew a portion of our community to migrate here in the past decade, and what factors have anchored the rest of us here, cherishing the Tucson area as our home. What avenues hold promise for our economy to flourish, and what policies could potentially thwart the future of our economy? Over the ensuing year, I’ll explore these questions — and I invite you to join me. Share your thoughts with me at julie@csinstituteaz.org.

The Common Sense Institute is vested in the prosperity of Arizonans, and I am honored to contribute towards honoring Jim Kolbe’s legacy by supporting what he cherished dearly: Southern Arizona.