2 of 3 Tucson Council Races Contested

Listen:

Two of three Tucson City Council races have contested general elections, and the third seat up for election this year is uncontested.

Wednesday was the deadline for candidates to file signatures to qualify for the primary election. None of the candidates running for the three seats this year has a primary opponent, all will mov to the general election.

The candidates in the races:
Ward 3, north side: Karin Uhlich (D), Ben Buehler-Garcia (R)
Ward 5, south side: Richard Fimbres (D), Michael Polack II (R)
Ward 6, central: Steve Kozachik (D)

Any of the races could change if a a candidate files to run by the write-in deadline of July 18.

Buehler-Garcia narrowly lost to Uhlich when she ran for a second term four years ago. Kozachik has changed parties since his first election in 2009. Fimbres is seeking a second term, and this is Polack's first run for Tucson City Council.

There also may be one or two initiatives on the ballot in November. Two campaigns have filed with the city clerk's office, and must gather at least 12,730 signatures each by July 5 to qualify.

They are the Traffic Justice initiative, which aims to remove red light cameras, and the Sustainable Retirements Benefits Act, which aims to change the retirement system for city employees.