2019 Tucson Ward 1 Election Candidate Guide
Tucson City Council candidates weigh in on issues facing the community, and how to solve them. The Candidates Hover or tap on a candidate for more information
Sam Nagy (R)
WEBSITE Sam Nagy was born and raised in Tucson. He is a peer support specialist for Community Partnership of Southern Arizona and a motivational speaker focusing on behavioral health and crisis intervention for adults in Tucson and surrounding communities. Taken from the campaign website and edited for length.
Sam Nagy
RepublicanLane Santa Cruz (D)
WEBSITE Lane Santa Cruz is a second-generation Tucsonan born and raised on the south side. She holds a Ph.D. in teaching, learning and sociocultural studies from the UA. Santa Cruz spent 12 years working at nonprofits and has taught courses as an adjunct instructor at the UA in Mexican American studies and education. Taken from the campaign website and edited for length.
Lane Santa Cruz
DemocratMatthew Smith (G)
No bio available.
Matthew Smith
Green PartyMatthew Smith did not respond to our survey request.
Do you support the city taking any of the following actions to deal with climate change?
| Action | Nagy | Santa Cruz | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create a climate action plan with targets for carbon emissions reductions. | |||
| Increase the city's use of renewable energy sources. | |||
| Incentivize businesses to increase renewable energy use. | |||
| Encourage the community to support actions that reduce carbon emissions, but no formal city role. | |||
| Expand use of electric buses and other city vehicles. | |||
| Require rainwater harvesting on all new development. | |||
| Expand or require more tree planting in public spaces citywide. | |||
| Expand greenspace (parks, non-paved public space, development regulations). | |||
| Prioritize economic development among businesses with climate change plans. | |||
| Create/expand programs to help residents learn about and pay for home/behavioral modifications. | |||
| Encourage energy efficient technology and building upgrades in city properties. | |||
| This is not a city responsibility. |
Explain your answer (optional)
Lane Santa Cruz
“As one of the cities experiencing the greatest rate of warming, it is essential that the Mayor and Council work to address climate change and help the City adapt to rising temperatures. The changing climate will reduce the supply of water, and also increase our need for it. ”
If given only one choice, what is the best way for the city to pay for road repair today?
| Action | Nagy | Santa Cruz | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Increase taxes. | |||
| Reallocate existing funds. |
Explain your answer (optional)
Lane Santa Cruz
“Road repair and retrofitting of existing road infrastructure is a major issue for the city and one that requires a substantial amount of funding. I am not in favor of regressive taxes and want to work towards a progressive more sustainable revenue stream. ”
Select all of the transportation strategies the city should spend money on.
| Action | Nagy | Santa Cruz | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buses/expanding bus routes. | |||
| Streetcar/expanding streetcar route. | |||
| Multi-use: maintaining/expanding bike routes, sidewalks, bus pullouts. | |||
| Widening roads to increase vehicle capacity. | |||
| Bike share, scooter share programs. | |||
| Adding electric buses to the Sun Tran fleet. | |||
| Road repair (filling potholes, reconstructing bad roads). | |||
| Accessibility (ADA compliance such as sidewalk ramps). | |||
| Bus stop shelters. | |||
| Street lighting. | |||
| None of the above. |
Explain your answer (optional)
Lane Santa Cruz
“A clear, continuous, protected, and illuminated network for pedestrians, bikes, and bus connections for all physical abilities that is predictable to all road users.”
Do you support the sanctuary city initiative going before voters this fall?
| Action | Nagy | Santa Cruz | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | |||
| No |
Why or why not?
Sam Nagy
“Prop 205 will cultivate less collaboration between several local, state and federal law enforcement agencies which makes Tucson vulnerable to unsafe activity.”
Lane Santa Cruz
“The organizers of this initiative did the hard work to collect more than the number of necessary signatures. It is an important issue of great concern to our community and Tucson voters deserve the opportunity to make their voices heard.”
Do city policies already do enough to protect immigrant interactions with law enforcement?
| Action | Nagy | Santa Cruz | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | |||
| No |
Explain (optional)
Lane Santa Cruz
“Community organizing made the City/TPD include restraints written into the current orders. DPS & Sheriff's Dept. continue racial profiling & criminalizing our immigrant community. A municipal ID & supporting survivors of violence are two pieces that could potentially reduce collaboration.”
Is the city doing enough to prevent and/or end homelessness?
| Action | Nagy | Santa Cruz | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | |||
| No |
Explain (optional)
Sam Nagy “More can be done with the right motivation and drive from our city leaders.”
Lane Santa Cruz
“We need to be more proactive and leverage City-owned land for affordable housing. We also need living wages so that people are not stuck in a cycle of having to choose between paying medical bills or the rent.”
How important is it for the city of Tucson to make policies that support housing affordability?
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not important at all | | Extremely important |
Gentrification is a problem in Tucson.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly disagree | | | Strongly agree |
Do you support the continued use of tax incentives for businesses to encourage growth in certain parts of the city?
| Action | Nagy | Santa Cruz | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | |||
| No | |||
| Maybe |
Why or why not? Which parts of the city?
Sam Nagy
“I do believe everyone should have access to any incentives big businesses are allocated. All businesses within city boundaries should be eligible for incentives if voters/city leaders agree.”
Lane Santa Cruz
“I fully support urban infill and in Tucson people want to make sure that we preserve our environment and our cultural heritage. We need to find ways to build dense and affordable housing in a way that’s sustainable and reduces water use and our carbon footprint.”
What is the No. 1 issue in your ward?
Sam Nagy
“Building community, bringing people from different cultures and heritages together.”
Lane Santa Cruz
“Historic disinvestment has led to disenfranchisement. Oftentimes, our working poor and working middle class are in survival mode, trying to stay afloat, and don’t have the means to fight for better roads, parks, and representation. I'll meet residents where they are at.”
What is your favorite restaurant in your ward?
Sam Nagy
“Daisy Maes, Seis Kitchen and Mosaic Cafe.”
Lane Santa Cruz
“BKs has the best carne asada tortas. JPS has mouthwatering fish ceviche. Rollie’s has the delicious flat enchiladas. La Fresita has the tastiest carne asada tacos. Barrio Barista has the yummiest breakfast burros. Bianchi's has savory spinach lasagna. New Asia sweet lunch specials.”
