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Three Democrats are looking to become Tucson’s next Ward 5 City Council member, and whoever wins the seat will be dealing with hot-button issues including affordable housing, homelessness, gentrification, public safety and more.

One of the largest wards in the city, Ward 5 largely encompasses Tucson’s south side and includes culturally rich and diverse parts of the community. It spans Sunnyside and the rodeo fairgrounds to Santa Rita Park and South Park Avenue. Ward 5 also borders South Tucson on its north, east and south perimeters.

The position was previously held by Richard Fimbres, who stepped down in May after 16 years, citing health issues. Prior to his resignation, Fimbres had not attended City Council meetings in person for years, opting instead to join online.

Rocque Perez, executive director of the Metro Education Commission, was appointed to fill the spot through December for the remainder of the term. The winner of the election will take office afterward.

With no Republicans on the ballot, the race will be decided in the August 5 primary. We’ll be interviewing candidates in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, here’s a look at who’s on the ballot:

Jesse Lugo

Jesse Lugo is a Tucson native with a long history of community involvement dating back to 1992. He attended Manzo Elementary School and is a graduate of Cholla High School.

A local businessman, Lugo has been in the automotive, petroleum fuel supply and commercial insurance industries for more than four decades.

He’s served as a board member for 88 Crime, the Arizona Automotive Trades Organization, Arizona for Better Roads, the City of Tucson Small, Minority and Women Business Commission, and more, with over 30 organizations listed on his campaign website.

Lugo founded Bike In A Box, a nonprofit organization that gives underprivileged kids bicycles annually at Christmastime. This year, they will host their 17th annual “Bike In A Box” event, where they will give away more than 500 bikes.

His previous political experience includes an unsuccessful run for the Arizona House of Representatives in 2000 and an unsuccessful bid for the Ward 5 seat in 2001.

His campaign website lists his priorities as providing adequate funding for fire and police, revamping road maintenance and construction policies, improving parks and recreation services, bringing new businesses to the region, supporting elderly residents and more.

His endorsements include former Ward 5 Council member Fimbres and former South Tucson Mayor Paul Diaz.

The endorsement list on his campaign website also includes TUSD board Ward 3 candidate Sadie Shaw, but her campaign team says she no longer endorses Lugo and made the endorsement before entering the Ward 3 race.

" Sadie doesn't want to endorse anyone else currently in the running," her team said Friday.

Selina Barajas

Political newcomer Selina Barajas is a fourth-generation Tucsonan with deep roots in Tucson’s south side. She’s hoping to become the first woman to represent Ward 5 on the City Council.

Barajas attended schools in the Sunnyside and Tucson Unified School districts and earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Arizona. She went on to receive a master’s degree in urban planning from UCLA.

She’s worked on various projects in the city, including Tucson Norte-Sur and the Sunnyside Foundation’s Community Investment Fund.

Barajas currently works as the City of South Tucson’s community investment advisor, where she looks for ways to activate the city and bring in more investment and economic growth to the 1.2-square-mile municipality.

She’s also the Arizona program manager for Mountain Mamas, an organization that advocates for the climate, clean air and water, and public lands. She is co-owner of Luna y Sol Café, South Tucson’s first-ever coffee shop and a habitat for birds and butterflies, set to open later this year.

She has deep ties to the community, having founded Mi Reina Mobile Boutique and Reinas Who Hike, a hiking group aimed at fostering community, empowerment and connection through shared outdoor experiences.

Her priorities include community-focused economic development, improving support and services for unhoused individuals, expanding affordable housing options, re-engaging area youth and fostering environmental justice.

Barajas is endorsed by Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Council member Lane Santa Cruz, South Tucson Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela and other prominent Tucson politicians.

Chris Elsner

Chris Elsner is another first-time candidate. He moved to Tucson in 2011 to attend graduate school at the UA, where he received his master’s degree in public administration and a graduate certificate in entrepreneurship.

Prior to his move, he served with the Peace Corps in Ukraine as an education volunteer and received his bachelor’s degree in English from Northern Illinois University.

Elsner works as the Peace Corps Prep coordinator at the UA, where he’s led successful outreach initiatives that tripled program participation, advocated for and received a $500,000 budget, and developed an extensive network of Peace Corps volunteers. He’s previously held other program coordinator positions at the university.

He is the current president of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Southern Arizona and was vice president of the Tucson Young Professionals board of directors from 2017 to 2020. He’s also been a board member at SARSEF and has worked closely with several local nonprofits, including the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona.

Elsner previously launched two startups: Globally Good in 2019 and Overclockd in 2014.

If elected, his priorities include improving government accountability and responsiveness, building safer streets, reforming zoning and code ordinances to increase affordable housing, maintaining free public transit, reforming elections and more.

Elsner’s candidacy was challenged by Lugo, who filed a lawsuit claiming Elsner had collected invalid signatures. The suit was ultimately dismissed by a judge on a technicality, since Lugo didn’t properly serve the papers to the city clerk’s office.

Important dates

Candidates have been invited to participate in an NAACP forum tomorrow from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Donna R. Liggins Center, 2160 N. Sixth Ave.

The League of Women Voters is also hosting a forum for Ward 5 candidates on Thursday, June 26, from 5 to 6 p.m. at Valencia Public Library, 202 W. Valencia Road.

The deadline to register to vote in the primary election is Tuesday, July 8. Early voting begins Wednesday, July 9, and the primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 5. The general election, which includes races for the Ward 3 and Ward 6 seats, is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

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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