Debbie Federico and Eduardo Baca are challenging South Tucson City Council incumbents Cesar Aguirre and Brian Flagg in the Nov. 3 general election for the two seats left undecided after July’s primary.

Eight candidates ran for three seats in the July 21 nonpartisan primary, and Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela was the only one to win outright, with 201 of the 1,060 votes cast. Aguirre received 166 votes, Flagg and Federico tied with 154 each and Baca had 119.

Federico, who campaigned with Zeke Cook during the primary election to represent the 1.2-square-mile municipality, is now campaigning alongside Baca.

During the primary, Federico talked about her desire to create an updated, comprehensive development plan for the city; reinstall Flock cameras with strict guidelines and transparency; and find sources of funding to supplement the city’s budget.

Campaigning under a bilingual slogan, “From here, for here. De aquí, para aquí,” Federico wrote in an Instagram post that she grew up in the same South Tucson home her great-grandfather built and wants to “grow city revenue so South Tucson can stand on its own, fund public safety through a strong local economy, (and) honor our roots as we move forward together.”

Federico also wrote about her priorities.

“A balanced council. Right now, one organization holds the majority on our city council,” she wrote. “This isn’t representation.”

She also said the city needs clean, safe streets and should be able to cover its own costs.

“You can’t defend a barrio you cannot afford to sustain,” she wrote. “South Tucson should be a destination, not a speed bump."

Baca, who ran as a write-in candidate in an August 2025 recall election seeking to unseat Aguirre, previously campaigned for more city investment and for speaking directly with community members about their vision for South Tucson.

Currently campaigning under the slogan, “Hecho en South Tucson,” or made in South Tucson, Baca has owned Baca Upholstery for more than 40 years and keeps traditions alive with Folklorico Tapatio.

Baca will “stand up for small businesses that keep our city running, keep our culture and traditions alive for the next generation, (and provide) practical hands-on leadership at city hall," Federico wrote in her post.

Federico said the two bring different strengths to the race.

“We don’t do the same work, and that’s the point,” Federico wrote. “Our barrio deserves leaders who know it from different angles and share one purpose.”

Aguirre, Valenzuela and Flagg campaigned together in 2022 and again during the primary as Defend Nuestro Barrio, which is now backing Aguirre and Flagg for the two remaining council seats.

Flagg’s campaign centers on prioritizing local programs and safety initiatives prior to city development, offsetting jail costs and continuing opioid settlement negotiations.

“I want to be re-elected to the City of South Tucson, even though the idea of being a politician makes me vomit,” Flagg wrote in an Instagram post. “The reason to continue doing it is to serve and defend this barrio by listening to the people and fighting to bring a large dose of progressive politics to the larger region. It certainly is an experiment in how to fight for justice in a 1.2 square mile jurisdiction.”

Aguirre is campaigning on the argument that his work in South Tucson is not finished.

“In my first term, I came to realize that getting work done as an elected official takes time, and more than one vote,” Aguirre wrote on Instagram. “The first two years very little work was done because of personal politics amongst the existing councilmembers.”

Aguirre said he believes the current council, which includes Pablo Robles and Dulce Jimenez, elected in the last election, has the city’s best interest in mind and is open to improving South Tucson, even if its members don’t agree on everything.

Defend Nuestro Barrio backed Robles and Jimenez in their 2024 run for office.

“The work must continue,” he wrote.

Valenzuela has expressed her support for Flagg and Aguirre, crediting them with voting for resolutions that prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from staging on city property, advocating for the cleanup of the Spanish Trail motel and keeping the neighborhood clean by supporting barrio cleanups.

Valenzuela wrote on Instagram that the trio will “intensify” partnerships with local organizations to support the houseless community, “ensure South Tucson gets its fair share” of county and state resources and deepen their relationship with Attorney General Kris Mayes to prosecute “slumlords from taking advantage of our people.”

Topacio “Topaz” Servellon is a reporter with Tucson Spotlight. Contact them at topacioserve@gmail.com.

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