Tucson Councilman Richard Fimbres resigning in May; in 16th year in office

Tucson City Councilman Richard Fimbres will step down on May 1, leaving his Ward 5 seat open amid an ongoing election. He announced in January that he was not seeking reelection this year, after holding office since 2009.

The South Side Democrat said Friday that serving on the Council “has been an honor and a privilege” but “my personal health issues now compel me to step aside from my duties as a public servant.

Fimbres, 72, has not been attending City Council meetings in person since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, generally taking part virtually via video or phone. He has not publicly detailed his health issues, leading to speculation about a stroke or long COVID. He has made only limited public appearances since 2020, and was last elected in 2021.

“I had hoped to complete my current term of office, but I need to turn my full attention to my family and my health,” he said in a letter to Mayor Regina Romero and the rest of the Council. “I’m providing you this notice now so that you and my peers on the Council can begin the steps you choose to take to fill the vacancy that will occur on the effective date of my resignation.”

In a news release, the mayor said, “It has been my honor to work with Richard Fimbres on issues that matter to Tucsonans.”

“He founded the Homeless Work Program, an innovative public/private partnership that has helped hundreds of our unsheltered neighbors. He worked to create the Buffalo Soldier’s Memorial to recognize the contributions of African American Soldiers in Southern Arizona. Richard focused on veterans’ issues and always worked to protect workers and the most vulnerable in our community. Our collaboration with neighbors on the Santa Rita Park Master Plan is an excellent example of his positive impact to reinvest in Ward 5 neighborhoods,” Romero said.

The mayor said she appreciated his political support.

“I used to call him my tio; Tio Richard,” Romero said.

Fimbres, a native Tucsonan and Vietnam-era Army veteran, graduated from Tucson High in 1973. He studied at Pima Community College, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University.

He served 32 years with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, and worked as director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.  Fimbres served seven years on the Pima Community College Board, a post he gave up after winning his City Council seat. He was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2021.

“Richard’s public service record is distinguished. He and my father both served in the 8th of the 40th Armored Battalion reserve unit here in Tucson,” Councilmember Paul Cunningham told the Sentinel. “His work on the Governors Office of Highway Safety and with the Pima Community  College board demonstrates a commitment to making Tucson better. His work on the City Council for the homeless work program, the P-card and advocacy of the Cherrybell post office are stalwart examples of what public service is all about. I am honored to have served with him and proud to call him a friend.”

Councilmember Nikki Lee told the Sentinel, “I always advocate for prioritizing health and family, and I’m glad Richard is able to take this well-deserved retirement time and focus on both of those things. His entire adult life has been dedicated to serving our country, state, county, and city. He is the truest of public servants and it’s been an honor to serve alongside him on the Council.”

City Councilmember Karin Uhlich said that Fimbres is “truly a kind and caring man, and I feel privileged to have worked alongside him.”

“As a veteran and state and local official for decades, he has always been deeply devoted to serving with integrity and compassion,” said the longtime member of the Council.

Councilmember Kevin Dahl said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside Fimbres, calling him “a powerful and effective representative for his ward, even recently when his health concerns kept him from meeting with us in person.”

He recalled that Fimbres attended Dahl’s first ribbon-cutting after he was elected to the Ward 3 seat “and made sure I knew how to celebrate such an event with style.”

“When I was a freshman councilmember, he would often reach out to make sure I had the best information to understand the issues before us,” Dahl said. “Later, he would always consult with me on issues in my Ward. Richard’s team would regularly provide insightful questions on matters before the council, making sure city staff would provide the helpful answers to all of us.”

Councilmember Lane Santa Cruz said Fimbres’ “commitment to improving the quality of life for families on Tucson’s South Side has helped shape a more connected, supportive and resilient community.”

“From championing infrastructure improvements to uplifting youth and veterans, his legacy is one of heart, hard work and deep love for his district,” Santa Cruz said.

From the city:

“Richard Fimbres’ work on the City Council leaves a lasting legacy in Tucson,” said City Manager Timothy Thomure. “He worked tirelessly to facilitate, as he accurately called it many times at the council table, a ‘Ward 5 Renaissance,’ The Bridges is a prime example of this ‘renaissance’ as it brought much needed economic opportunity and service amenities to Tucson’s South Side residents.”

Other examples of successful economic development projects that Council Member Fimbres worked to make happen in our community and in Ward 5 include the expansion of Raytheon, the opening of the HomeGoods Distribution Center, GEICO’s Regional Headquarters, and Chamberlain Garage Doors.

The City Charter provides for the filling of a vacancy on the Council, including a vacancy caused by the resignation of a councilmember. Under Chapter VIII, Sec. 2 of the Charter, the mayor and Council will select a qualified elector of Ward 5 to fill the vacancy caused by Councilmember Fimbres’ resignation. That selection will take place at a regular or special session of the mayor and Council. The person selected by the mayor and Council will serve as the Ward 5 councilmember for the remainder of the existing term. The Ward 5 Council seat is up for election this November.

Election in November

While the seat will be filled on an interim basis by an appointee, this year’s election will determine who will serve the four years after that.

Four Democrats filed to run in the South Side ward:

• Selina Barajas, who previously worked at the Sunnyside Foundation
• Longtime local businessman Jesse Lugo
• Rookie candidate Christopher Elsner, a Peace Corps veteran
• Hip-hop artist Fabian Danobeytia

No Republican candidate filed to seek the office in the election.

Barajas told the Sentinel that Fimbres “served Ward 5 honorably for nearly 16 years, and I would like to thank him for his dedicated service to this community and for his years of service in our nation’s armed forces. His commitment to the people of Tucson, alongside the dedicated members of his longtime staff, have left a lasting impact on the Ward 5 community. As he steps down to focus on his health, I join many in expressing deep gratitude for his leadership and wishing him strength and healing.”

Lugo, who is endorsed by the longtime councilmember to replace him, said Fimbres has “offered very distinguished service for many, many years. I hope that his health improves.”

None of the candidates ruled out applying to complete the remainder of Fimbres’ term through December, though none of them said they planned to apply.

Barajas said she was “fully focused on earning the trust of Ward 5 voters as I run for the full term. Right now, that’s where all of my attention is.”

Lugo said he hadn’t decided whether he’d apply but he thought he could be a contender since he had Fimbres’ endorsement in the primary race.

“Richard Fimbres endorsed me so it’s up to the mayor and the other Council members whether to accept me or not,” Lugo said.

Elsner said he needed to know more about the process.

“I’d want to know more about the process and ramifications before making a decision,” he said.

Danobeytia said he was still “looking into how this changes the landscape and determining the next steps to take.”

Romero said she wanted to swiftly move forward with appointing a new Council member.

“We need to fill this vacancy as quickly as we can,” the mayor said. “We’re in the middle of a budget.”

Romero said the Council would discuss the appointment process at the April 22 meeting and she hoped to make a decision by the May 6 meeting.

Romero, who has endorsed Barajas in the election, said she did not want to appoint any of the Ward 5 Democrats now running in the Aug. 5 primary election.

“I don’t think we should put our thumb on the scale,” she said.

Lee and Cunningham agreed with the mayor.

Lee said she “100 percent” wanted to appoint a “caretaker of the seat” rather than a current candidate.

“With the primary underway, I do not want to give any incumbency benefit to anyone and want the Ward 5 residents to make their choice at the ballot box,” Lee said.

Cunningham said he thought appointing a candidate “would not be appropriate.”

“We need to leave it to the Ward 5 voters in November,” Cunningham said.

Uhlich said she would “prefer someone not running” but wanted to hear from her colleagues and the community.

Dahl said he hadn’t yet made any decisions about the appointment process.

Santa Cruz said that “with the election so close, I prefer a caretaker” for the Ward 5 seat.