Personal injury attorney and Tucson native Leighton Rockafellow Jr. is running for the Ward 6 City Council seat with a campaign focused on tackling homelessness, boosting job opportunities and making the city a better place to live, for his own children and for future generations.

Rockafellow, 43, is co-owner of Rockafellow Law Firm. He said the most rewarding part of his job is giving a voice to those who need it.

A Democrat, Rockafellow is a member of his neighborhood association in Catalina Vista. He's an advocate for neighborhood associations and would like to see underrepresented neighborhoods create their own.

He’s up against two Democratic opponents — Miranda Schubert and Jim Sinex. The winner of July’s primary will face Republican Jay Tolkoff in the general election.

Rockafellow told Tucson Spotlight his campaign is driven by a desire to improve Tucson’s livability, not just for today’s residents but for future generations.

“I love this city. I don't ever want to leave this city,” he said. “I really want my kids to love this city as much as I do and have the opportunities to stay here and raise their own family.”

Rockafellow believes one of the biggest obstacles to Tucson’s growth into a vibrant city is the increasing homelessness across the area. He called it a wall blocking the city's forward progress and said addressing it requires more than just providing shelter.

He emphasized that the issue isn’t just a lack of housing but also a shortage of essential resources, noting that simply providing a home won’t solve the deeper problems that caused someone’s situation.

“That's like saying, let's start building a new house when the current house is still on fire,” Rockafellow said. “We’ve got to put this fire out first.”

He said mental health treatment and the creation of citywide shelters are key to tackling these problems while allowing impacted communities to take the first steps toward improving their lives.

“The fact of the matter is, people need to feel safe and secure before they can even consider improving whatever mental health or drug addiction is leaving them in that situation, and without safety and security,” he said.

Rockafellow acknowledged the hardships facing Tucson’s homeless population and the broader impact on the entire community — from people dying on the street to public safety concerns.

“It's terrible for the businesses that are trying to prevent graffiti, that are trying to keep people coming in the door,” he said. “It's terrible for tourism. It's terrible for our neighborhoods that are having to clean up trash and deal with this persistent problem of drug sales.”

In addition to building more shelters and providing care and treatment for people experiencing homelessness, Rockafellow said that if elected, he’d also study how other cities have reduced homelessness, calling this a “best practices approach.” He said this involves taking the most effective methods from around the country and combining them into a single, effective plan.

He stressed that Tucson cannot improve its economy without first addressing the homelessness crisis, since businesses will assess crime data before deciding to move into a city.

“When businesses are looking, they want to know two things: How are the schools? How's the crime?” Rockafellow said.

He also prioritizes economic justice, something he says other Democrats have overlooked amidst their focus on social justice. He believes the ability to earn a living wage and have job choices empowers people and strengthens communities.

“That means helping our businesses that are already here, helping them grow, breaking down barriers that are preventing them from expanding, increasing, improving our permitting processes and also attracting new companies to come here and start their businesses,” he said.

Outside of policy, Rockafellow said his legal career has shaped a practical approach to leadership. His experience in law has taught him the value of reaching compromises that serve everyone’s interests, rather than holding firm to partisan positions.

“It is not, ‘This is what's best. You must do what I want to do.’ It’s, ‘Let's all take a look at this, and let's find a solution that's somewhere in the middle,’” he explained. “Only when everyone's on the same page can you make a solution be lasting and improve everyone's situation.”

One of Rockafellow’s priorities is to revive town halls and bring more public input to council decisions — something he believes has been missing. He compares this to his law firm, where clients speak directly with him rather than a paralegal.

“That's how you truly understand your client, and in this case, your residents, and that’s how you can be the best advocate. That's my approach to my career and hopefully something I can bring to council,” he said.

Even if he loses, Rockafellow said he’ll continue to be an advocate for his community, working to bring about the positive changes he wants to see in Tucson.

“This campaign has made me fall in love with Tucson all over again. It’s been the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life.”

Emma LaPointe is a journalism, political science and German Studies major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at emma.m.lapointe@gmail.com.

Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please support our work with a paid subscription.