Tucson hosts Project Blue public meeting Monday at TCC

A roundup of upcoming Tucson-area political events: Wednesday is the recommended deadline to send back early ballots in the city primary election; Upcoming Project Blue public meetings; Tucson City Council primary election and South Tucson recall coming up on Aug. 5; Sentinel team on the airwaves & more

Send your events for Tucson Sentinel’s political calendar to [email protected].

Monday, Aug. 4: The city of Tucson will hold a in-person
public meeting to discuss Project Blue, a proposed data center near the
Pima County Fairgrounds. 5-7 p.m. at the Tucson Convention Center’s
Grand Ballroom, 260 S. Church Ave.

Tuesday, Aug. 5: City of Tucson primary election and South Tucson recall election. 

In Tucson, three seats are up for grabs in Wards 3, 5 and 6, with open seats in two of the races .

In
Ward 6, where appointed Councilmember Karin Uhlich is not seeking a
full term, three Democrats are running the primary: attorney Leighton
Rockafellow Jr,. community radio station KXCI operations manager Miranda
Schubert and retired science teacher Jim Sinex.

The winner will face Republican Jay Tolkoff in the Nov. 4 general election.

In
Ward 5, where appointed Councilmember Rocque Perez is not seeking a
full term, three Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination: Local
businessman Jesse Lugo, local businesswoman and consultant Selina
Barajas and Peace Corps administrator Chris Elsner.

No other
candidates have filed to run in the race, so barring a successful
write-in campaign, the winner of the primary will advance to the Tucson
City Council.

In the Ward 3 Democratic primary, incumbent
Councilmember Kevin Dahl is facing TUSD Boardmember Sadie Shaw as he
seeks a second term. The winner of the primary election will face
Republican Janet Wittenbraker in the Nov. 4 election.

In Tucson, voting centers will be open on Election Day in Wards
3, 5 and 6 where voters can get replacement ballots or drop off their
completed vote-by-mail ballots.

The Election Day vote centers will be open
from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Donna R. Liggins Recreation Center, 2160
N. 6th Ave.; the El Pueblo Senior Center, 101 W. Irvington Rd.; and the
Parks and Recreation Administration building, 900 S. Randolph Way.

Voters can also drop off or receive a new or replacement ballot at the City Clerk’s Election Center, 800 E. 12th St., between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.

They can also drop off completed
ballots at the Pima County Recorder’s Office Downtown branch, 240 N.
Stone Ave.; the South Side branch, 6550 S. Country Club Rd.; or the East
Side branch, 6920 E. Broadway. Those offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. Monday through Friday although the East Side branch is closed for
lunch from noon to 1 p.m.

In the South Tucson recall election, South Tucson Mayor Roxanna
Valenzuela is facing write-in candidate Anita Romero, Councilmember
Cesar Aguirre is facing write-in challenger Eduardo Baca and
Councilmember Brian Flagg is facing write-in challenger Christopher
Dodson.

Voters can cast ballots or drop off
competed ballots at Sam Lena-South Tucson Library, 1607 S. 6th Ave, or
at the Pima County Recorder’s Office downtown branch, 240 N. Stone Ave.

Voters can also deliver their ballots
at any time through 7 p.m. on Aug. 5 to the Pima County Recorder’s
Office’s new ballot drop boxes outside the Downtown and East Side
offices.

Friday, Aug. 8: Tucson Sentinel reporter Jim
Nintzel joins a panel of journalists on AZPM’s Press Room to discuss the
major news stories of the week. Steve Goldstein moderates. Program airs
at 8:30 a.m. on NPR affiliate KUAZ-FM, 89.1 FM, 8:30 p.m. on PBS 6,
streams on the AZPM YouTube channel and can heard as a podcast here.

Monday, Aug. 25: Last day to register to vote in the Congressional District 7 special election.

Wednesday, Aug. 27: Early voting begins for CD7 special general election

Wednesday, Aug. 27: Tucson Sentinel reporter Jim Nintzel guest hosts the Buckmaster show. Noon on KVOI, 1030 AM. Episodes stream at buckmastershow.com.

Tuesday, Sept. 23: General Election Day for CD7 special election

Tuesday, Nov. 4: General Election Day for Tucson City Council races