No Surprises ... Tucson M&C Pick Uhlich for Ward 6 Seat (video)
Watch the finalists' speeches and the City Council vote.
The Tucson Mayor and Council appointed former City Council Member Karin Uhlich to her third stint on the City Council on May 6, 2024. Uhlich was elected to the Ward 3 City Council seat back in the ‘00s and has been appointed to the City Council twice — once to fill a Ward 3 vacancy and now to fill a Ward 6 vacancy.1
Twelve people put their names in for the Ward 6 appointment, 112 of us participated in a forum hosted by the Tucson League of Women Voters in April, and four finalists gave speeches before the Mayor and City Council on May 6 … moments before they unanimously appointed Uhlich to the seat.
The vote was quick and no surprise. Uhlich was rumored to be the favorite since former City Council Member Steve Kozachik resigned in March.
In the weeks leading up to the May 6 vote, there was a lot of neighborhood buzz on multiple email lists about exactly where Uhlich lives. The Democratic Party’s VAN shows that she is registered to vote in Ward 6 in the West University Neighborhood. Sleuthing neighborhood residents dug up property tax records showing Uhlich owning property in Ward 3 and claiming it as a primary residence in 2023. Appearing to address these questions, Uhlich said multiple times “my dog and I moved” to West University in 2021 and live in “co-housing”. At the beginning of the meeting, the City Attorney clarified that all four finalists are “qualified electors” in Ward 6.
Here are the finalists’ presentations and the Mayor and Council vote. The meeting starts around 13 minutes in.
Ward 6 Has a Reputation for Independence
I knew I was an underdog for this appointment, even though I served the northern part of Ward 6 and Tucson in the Arizona Legislature for six years. Like Kozachik, I’m not a yes-person. I’m an independent-minded data nerd, who asks questions and spurns big money political donations. It’s no surprise that the same voters elected the two of us to overlapping terms. I was Koz’s Legislator, and he was my City Council member.
I entered this race to change the conversation and bring up new ideas and strategies regarding: 1) housing and homelessness, 2) infrastructure and the built environment and 3) tying economic development to the creation of good-paying jobs.
My “I Got Issues” videos and Substack articles provide the details.
‘I Got Issues’: #1 Is Housing (video)
‘Give Me Shelter’ … It’s Time for Sanctioned Urban Camping (video)
Traffic & Concrete: How Much Is Too Much? (video)
Economic Development Should Focus on Good-Paying Jobs (video)
I want to thank the Pima Area Labor Federation (PALF) for endorsing me and all of the residents who wrote letters of support!!!! I got more letters of support than any other candidate — plus an “impressive” number of support emails.
The appointment lasts through the end of 2025. The Ward 6 seat will be included in the November 2025 city election. The Mayor and Council stated many times that they wanted to choose a person who agreed not to run for the seat in 20253, so this will be an open seat. Of the 12 people who sought this appointment, there were several good people with solid, novel ideas. This will be a race to watch.
Video Transcript
Here is the text of my speech.
Honorable Mayor and City Council members
and members of the general public here and online …
Thank you so much for inviting me to speak this evening.
My name is Pamela Powers and I am a 20-year resident of the Palo Verde Neighborhood in Ward 6.
I was 30 years old and pregnant with our first child when my partner and I moved to Tucson in 1981.
We settled here, raised a family here and had two successful small businesses here.
Both of our children and all four of our grandchildren were born and raised in Tucson. The kids graduated from Tucson Magnet High School, and my daughter and I are both University of Arizona alums.
I care about the future of Tucson – the eclectic big small town that has been my home for most of my life.
My family has strong ties to Tucson. Our family history is intertwined in neighborhoods where we lived … West University, Pie Allen, Fort Lowell and Palo Verde. That’s why I submitted by name for consideration for the Ward 6 City Council vacated by Steve Kozachik.
I believe my background in finance, management, communications and public health – as well as my experience serving the northern half of Ward 6 and the City of Tucson in the Arizona House -- would be useful to the Tucson City Council …
particularly as we face tough budgetary choices.
For six years, Kozachik was my city council member, and I was his Legislator.
In the Legislature, I was on the Health Committee and the “money” committees – Ways and Means, Banking and Insurance, Commerce, and Regulatory Affairs.
I have decades of management experience as Managing Editor for the American Journal of Medicine, one of the world’s preeminent internal medicine journals, and before that Program Director for the Arizona Smokers Helpline.
I have written and negotiated multiple budgets, proposals and grants.
Tucson faces projected multi-million-dollar budget shortfalls in the coming fiscal years, primarily due to bad decisions by the Arizona Legislature, most notably the Flat Tax. Until the Flat Tax is repealed, the state budget, all county budgets and all local budgets will be facing tough budget choices and likely budget cuts.
I believe my background and my penchant for asking questions, looking for creative solutions and communicating with the public would be helpful in these uncertain times.
Tucson’s historic architecture, interesting plants and geology, laidback lifestyle, cool music scene and great temperatures drew me here.
I want to help Tucson move forward while protecting our city’s eclectic characteristics, historic architecture, multicultural lifestyle and fragile desert environment.
On the City Council, I would focus on housing, sustainable infrastructure and good-paying jobs.
During budget negotiations, I believe the City Council should do everything possible to preserve jobs. Keeping people employed and housed is good for everyone.
I am mostly retired, but like many retirees, I have a part-time job, with my long-time employer. I produce video content for the American Journal of Medicine. This position would in no way preclude me from accepting the appointment. I could start right away.
Kozachik and others have mentioned the importance of the Ward 6 staff and their service to the community.
I have attended multiple community and political events recently. What I learned was that Midtown people like Kozachik, but they LOVE the Ward 6 staff. I heard many good stories about how helpful they are on multiple levels. It would be silly for a newcomer to tinker with a well-oiled machine.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Appointments are a bit of a game, in my opinion. You may have already noticed that the same names pop up for appointments. Rep. Betty Villegas was appointed to the Pima County Board of Supervisors before being appointed to her current position as an Arizona House member. Former state Rep. Morgan Abraham’s name was in the buzz for multiple appointments before he was appointed to the Legislative District 10 seat. Former Rep. Chris Ackerly was recently appointed to fill County Treasurer’s position; ironically, Ackerly won his Arizona House seat by beating appointee former Rep. Damion Clinco. Not to leave the Republicans out … Democratic Legislators joked that former Speaker of the Arizona House Andy Tobin was Governor Doug Ducey’s favorite appointee.
The evening of the event was part of Passover, so one of the candidates was at home.
Of the 12 people who were qualified for the appointment, a few (including the other three finalists) said they wouldn’t run for the office, several said they would run and I said I am undecided about running for the Ward 6 seat in 2025. Look at all of the uncertainty in the world. We don’t know where we will be as a country in late November 2024. A lot can happen in the coming year and a half. I didn’t want to be one of those people who changes their mind … so, I’m officially undecided.
Pamela, what a disappointment (and no surprise indeed) to see a pal appointed over the popular 'vote'. I submitted two emails of support. You no doubt read them. November will no doubt be a basket full of surprises/no surprises. You are smart to remain uncommitted. Keep going on-- in grand style, m'dear!