Both candidates running in the Aug. 1 Democratic primary for Tucson City Council Ward 2 — ncumbent Paul Cunningham and Lisa Nutt — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Here are the candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
Cunningham:
- “I believe in a city that works. I am from Tucson and four generations of Cunninghams have called Tucson home so I know Tucson’s potential. With our wonderful climate and beautiful Sonoran desert, I know that we can make Tucson’s next century even better than the last. We have done a lot of things right in the last 15 years in Tucson and I am looking forward to continuing to make Tucson a safe, desirable and prosperous place to call home.
- My top priority as a City Council Member is addressing the unsheltered crisis that is happening in our city. We simply have to come up with new ways to address homelessness and to improve the lives of all Tucson residents. No one has all the answers but a lot of people have some of the answers and I am committed to continuing dialogues across our community to come up with solutions that make sense for Tucson.
- I will, of course, maintain my long held priorities of delivering a high quality of life for my constituents in Ward 2 and throughout the City. I will continue my focus on delivering high quality recreational opportunities for youth and adults throughout our City. I will continue my work improving Ward 2 parks and ensuring Tucson’s water supply for our children and grandchildren.”
Nutt:
- “There are any number of priorities that will be confronting the city of Tucson in the coming years. And, as voters should expect, we are capable of doing more than one thing at a time. My top priorities will focus on common sense and equitable economic development, solving our water/infrastructure/housing issues and working to ensure our neighborhoods and businesses are safe and our neighbors are respected within the public safety community.
- Promoting and encouraging infill projects can be beneficial for us in terms of efficient land use, revitalizing neighborhoods, and promoting sustainable development. Here are some ideas for how we can better encourage infill projects: 1. Streamline the regulatory process. 2. Provide financial incentives. 3. Flexible zoning regulations. 4. Create a long-term vision and plan for infill development. 5. Foster collaboration between the city and private developers through public-private partnerships. Jointly identify opportunities, share resources, and develop projects that align with the city’s goals. 6. Community engagement and support. 7. Prioritize investments in infrastructure. 8. Adaptive reuse and heritage preservation.
- More often than not, the issue with rising housing costs has as much to do with inventory as it does anything else. I am very much in favor of building out greater housing capacity and doing so in a fashion that (a) puts affordability central to job locations and public transportation; and, (b) we devise regulations/ordinances with an eye towards a little more common sense. This is particularly important when it comes to building in an environment where critical elements like water resources need to be continually managed or height restrictions need to be reconsidered. We also need to explore public-private partnerships as a way to leverage resources and reduce costs.”
Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.
We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.
Additional reading: