City of Tucson's council chambers in downtown.
The Tucson City Council has approved a process to appoint a new representative for Ward 5 after the retirement of Richard Fimbres.
Fimbres, who previously announced he would not seek re-election in November, announced his last day representing the ward would be May 1 due to undisclosed health reasons.
At the April 22 meeting, the council unanimously approved a two-week appointment process. Applications are open from now until Thursday, May 1 at 9 a.m.
The council will then hear directly from applicants in a special meeting on May 6, before choosing and swearing in the appointee at the evening meeting the same day.
Ward 5 is up for election this November, and many city leaders were in agreement they would not pick someone who had already entered the race.
“I don’t know if they shouldn’t be allowed to apply or not, I don’t think that’s up to us, but at the end of the day I don’t think I’d be comfortable in tilting that election I think it’s important that the voters decide that,” said councilmember Paul Cunningham.
Councilmembers agreed the appointment needs to happen quickly as the city is facing important financial decisions for next year.
“This is our third council seat that we’ve had to fill after a vacancy…but this one in particular, we are right in the middle of budget season for Fiscal Year 26, and it’s important that we fill it fast,” said Mayor Regina Romero.
Applicants need to have lived in Tucson for three years, and within Ward 5, covering the southside of the city, for at least a year. City leaders said qualified candidates should send resumes and letters of interest in an email to the city clerk’s office, and fill out financial disclosure forms.
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