Roxanna Valenzuela was appointed the new mayor of South Tucson Tuesday.

She was joined by new South Tucson City Council members Melissa Brown-Dominguez and Pablo Robles, who were appointed and sworn in as Vice Mayor and Acting Mayor, respectively.

The leadership shift marks a significant reorganization on the council

New council member Dulce Jimenez was also sworn in Tuesday.

Rounding out the council are former Mayor Paul Diaz, Brian Flagg and Cesar Aguirre. Council members Rita Rogers and Anita Romero did not seek reelection.

Former Vice Mayor Herman Lopez was seeking another term, but came in last, with only 10% of the vote.

“I'm excited because these new council members are passionate,” Valenzuela said. “I see the work that they do in the community and for them to bring that over here into government, I’m just excited and happy that they're going to be my colleagues, and that we're all working towards the same with the same mission, to the improvement of South Tucson so that we can thrive, so we can be healthy and safer.”

Valenzuela pointed to public safety as her top priority, along with making sure the city’s departments are well funded. Vice Mayor Brown-Dominguez told the Spotlight safe neighborhoods are a priority for her. 

“I'm coming into this hopeful that we are going to be more collaborative with one another,” Brown-Dominguez said. “We are all very different people, but I think there's also a beauty in that because when you have different minds come together, you can problem solve things differently or see things from different angles and I'm hoping that we can use that in a positive way.”

Collaboration and out of the box thinking are popular themes among the new council. 

“South Tucson is a unique place. We have an opportunity to make positive change for our community if we work together,” Jimenez told Tucson Spotlight in a text. “I think there may be some pushback from folks who are hesitant of change. Our city is struggling and we need creative solutions that center the community voice.”

This council signifies a shift in South Tucson to younger leadership who have strong community ties and a willingness to collaborate and think of creative solutions. 

“I think it's really important that we have a combination of experienced leadership and new leadership,” said District 5 Board of Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, who attended Tuesday’s South Tucson City Council meeting. “I think it's been really beneficial at the county level and will be equally beneficial here."

Other notable attendees were Tohono O’odham Chairman Verlon Jose and Pascua Yaqui Chairman Julian Hernandez.

The inauguration ceremony was followed by a celebration at the El Casino Ballroom, with music, food and refreshments.

"They’re really wanting to work on solutions to the problems that all of our communities face … and I think that their willingness to be part of conversations and partner is going to be really critical," Grijalva said of the new council members.

Susan Barnett is Deputy Editor of Tucson Spotlight and a graduate student at the University of Arizona. She previously worked for La Estrella de Tucson. Contact her at susan@tucsonspotlight.org.

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