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Ward 3 Democratic primary outcome

I respect the Pima County judge’s ruling to uphold the Ward 3 Democratic primary results, denying Sadie Shaw’s request for a new election, though some may see it as potentially unfair. The decision stands, and we must move forward. Sadie Shaw’s strong campaign, finishing just 19 votes behind incumbent Kevin Dahl (pending recount), highlights growing dissatisfaction with Tucson’s Mayor and City Council. Policies like fare-free transit and encampment management, though perhaps well-intentioned, are impacting Tucsonans negatively.

While I respect Kevin Dahl and Sadie Shaw, I disagree with their policy approaches. Tucson’s City Council needs fresh ideas and collaborative solutions. As a Ward 3 candidate, I’m committed to practical, balanced policies for a stronger Tucson.

The Pima County Recorder’s error, affecting 358 voters (76 in Ward 3) with incorrect ballots, undermines trust. This demands a state review and corrective measures for fair, transparent elections.

Janet Wittenbraker

Midtown

Laura’s leadership

I recently concluded my tenure as a prosecuting attorney under Laura Conover at the Pima County Attorney’s Office. While student debt heavily influenced my decision to move to the private sector, leaving was not easy. Working for Laura was the most rewarding job I have ever had. I feel compelled to share my perspective, especially given the unfair LTE criticism Laura receives from former administration members. Her focus is on prosecuting truly dangerous criminals — those who threaten public safety, including violent offenders, drug dealers, and individuals who harm children. She prioritizes justice and community safety over inflating felony statistics. For instance, she does not seek to felonize someone for an honest mistake, like accidentally bouncing a $100 check. I am incredibly grateful for Laura’s leadership and mentorship. I am also deeply thankful to my direct supervisor and my incredible friends and colleagues I had the privilege of working with at the PCAO. It was truly an honor to be part of the team.

Brian Robles

Downtown

Re: ‘For city, compassion is not enough’

Thank you, Louie Christensen, for vocalizing what everyone knows: “Today, buses are less a tool for getting to work or school and operate as diesel-powered air conditioning centers for the homeless.� The fare-free bus system as it stands now is clearly creating a dangerous transit environment. If the system is to remain “free�, some sort of transit police force needs to be established. But wait! Who will pay for that? If not that, then reinstate fares. Either way, it’s going to cost something. Nothing is “free.� Since the mayor and council seem to be indecisive and ineffective, they all need to be replaced, IMHO. Isn’t that why a hefty pay increase was approved for mayor and council? To attract the best and brightest candidates? The present mayor and council appear to be operating at their previous pay grade.

Dewey Bidwell

Northeast side

Not safe from gerrymandering

Our ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) does not keep us safe from political manipulation. Examples:

1. The Commission on Appellate Court Appointments (CACA) controls the selection of AIRC commissioners. In 2020, CACA consisted of 9 Republicans, 4 Independents and no Democrats. Challenged Ducey appointed Democrats to the open seats, however, they were too inexperienced and outnumbered to make a difference. Interestingly, CACA now has 8 Democrats, 6 Independents and only 2 Republicans.

2. The 5-member size of the AIRC gives the chair way too much power. Of the 21 votes on map selection, the Chair sided with the Republicans 8 times and Democrats only once. The final month, she sided with Republicans 62.5% of the time.

3. I live in Marana. My best friend lives 42 miles away in Vail. We are both in LD17. Commissioner Mehl, with behind-the-scenes input from friend politician Vince Leach, successfully gerrymandered to assure a Republican voting majority violating compact and contiguous criteria.

Watch for and support improvements to the AIRC.

Dee Maitland

Marana

A simple clarification

A couple of responses to Mr. Cory’s “Simple answer� LTE (Aug. 26). First, the legality of the National Guard deployment to Los Angeles is still being litigated, with a decision not yet determined. The National Guard is not meant to act as a domestic police force. Trump insists the troops were sent to “protect federal property and personnel,� which is a joke. (When do you suppose Trump will be sending federal troops to the many high-crime red-state cities? Answer: Never.) Second, Trump did not win the popular vote. 48.3% of Americans voted for Kamala Harris, and 1.9% voted for third-party candidates — a total of 50.2%, reflecting that more people voted against Trump than for him. With so much falsity pouring out of the current administration, at least the “Trump won the popular vote� lie should be put to rest.

Hope Gastelum

East side

Execute the laws?

Trump said he was firing Fed Board member Lisa Cook because it was his duty to “faithfully execute the laws of the United States.� The facts of that case are dubious at best.

But what about Trump himself? The record is much less ambiguous.

The U.S. Constitution is law. Appropriations of Congress are law. Due process for migrants is law. To faithfully execute the laws of the United States means to obey those laws.

Yet, in the first months of this Trump administration, at least 39 separate judges have ruled against his lawless actions. They have variously issued temporary restraining orders or preliminary injunctions preventing Trump from, among many other things, ending constitutional birthright citizenship, targeting opponents with politically motivated investigations, freezing funding that Congress had approved for projects, and cutting off funding due to political disagreements.

Congress needs to faithfully execute the law, too.

The one governing the removal of lawless presidents.

Chuck Barrett

Midtown

Positive ideas?

Per a LTE from a loyal follower, “Hold criminals responsible for their actions.� Agreed. Know any convicted criminals holding high political office? “Actually, account for the taxpayer dollars the government spends.� Agreed. Know why the current administration wants to paint the “wall� black and other boondoggle wastes of your money without taxpayer accountability? Just asking.

Dennis Winsten

Northeast side

Foreign policy and democratic values

The Trump Administration has abandoned a key democratic value in supporting foreign governments which pursue territorial expansion through military aggression.

At the beginning of WWII, the West failed to vigorously oppose Germany and Japan as they employed military campaigns to seize territories in neighboring countries. The victimized populations did not choose their fates.

Now the Trump Administration supports the efforts of Russia and Israel to seize the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ and territories of neighboring peoples. (Granted the Israel situation is complicated by Hamas’ initial violent attack. But Israel now seems determined to eliminate the population of Gaza and claim the land for itself.)

The attempted seizures our government seems to support will lead to prolonged grievances and more war. They are anti-democratic. Not to mention the death the military aggression will impose.

It is very disturbing that the lessons of WWII and our democratic values are being ignored by this Administration.

Jim Greene

Marana

The joy of barbershop singing

I was first introduced to barbershop singing in 1968 and have been singing ever since. The Tucson Chapter is still going strong and meets weekly to rehearse and learn new songs. The joy of barbershop comes from a unique and tight-knit harmony, created by four voices singing a cappella.

The heart of barbershop is its four-part harmony, made up of the tenor, lead, baritone, and bass. When these four parts are perfectly in tune, a magical phenomenon happens. This barbershop sound creates harmonic overtones that you can literally feel. For singers, it’s a powerful and goosebump-inducing experience that makes you feel part of something bigger than yourself.

You don’t need to be a professional musician to enjoy barbershop. Many people are drawn to it because it is an accessible form of singing, with an emphasis on learning by ear through a shared love of music. The blend of voices, the ringing chords and the shared passion for harmony create a truly joyful and uplifting experience.

Tom McGorray

Northwest side

China sees tariffs as opportunity

Trump campaigned on fighting the U.S.’s biggest enemy, China. But emphasis changed to hardened criminals invading our southern border, masked ICE agents deporting undocumented residents everywhere, and tariffs on world trading partners, not just China. In 1911, during the Mexican Revolution, 300 Chinese were massacred in Torreon, Coahuila, followed by incidents throughout northern Sonora. By 1931, Governor Rodolfo Elías-Calles forced most Chinese from the state. China views the tariff damage to the economies of the U.S. and its trading partners as opportunities. Recently, Chinese Consulate General Fu Xingrong, an attractive young woman fluent in Spanish, visited Sonora and Baja California, with messages of friendship, hope, and potential developments in renewable energy and minerals, leaving the bad history in the past. China is becoming part of the culture of Mexico and many Latin American countries. Will U.S. fear and intimidation or Chinese friendship and progress be more successful?

Tom Van Devender

North side

Military deployment

In Mr O’Brien’s opinion piece, he lays out reasons for the military to be deployed on U.S. soil. His first example of Lincoln confronting a deadly riot during the Civil War has no correlation to anything happening today. In fact, it shows how extreme the deployment was. He then states The Posse Comitatus Act and notes there are exceptions like the Insurrection Act. Again, there is no insurrection taking place and of course the stunning irony/hypocrisy is Trump initiated a failed coup and has yet to be held accountable. He is much more organized this time. The military must not be deployed on U.S. soil.

William Garrity

Foothills

A Nobel Peace Prize for Trump

Dear Mr. President, I honestly and sincerely wish that you earn a Nobel Peace Prize for yourself and our country.

Having said that (and mean it) I think that your efforts in the Russia v Ukraine will prove fruitless unless the US puts up very substantial collateral in which case any thought of a prize would be phony due to a bribe. They both need to put their cards on the table, go to the World Court and state the elements of an agreement that they would accept. And, I am very sure that money/gold can play a big part.

But the clearly golden opportunity for you/U.S. is to stop the killing/starvation of noncombatants in Gaza. Why on earth don’t you do it? The prize would be enormous for the U.S. and the world.

May God Bless you for your good efforts.

President Trump has so much power. In the words of Aesop: “If you are grateful for what you have, it is enough.�

Vincent Allen

Northwest side

Our region’s struggles

Our region’s struggles are not caused by one event but by many. The decline of Tucson really began when IBM decided to downsize, then Motorola was blocked from coming to town. Texas instruments downsized. Each individually is not a dealbreaker, but it started a pattern. Big-name companies with good-paying jobs began to avoid us. We even blocked RTX from expanding here. We then got a bunch of third-rate companies that amounted to nothing, Worldview, Vector Space, Tu Simple. Our local leaders and local activists scream about equity, good-paying jobs and families, but all I’ve seen from them has made life worse. The city and its activist class can easily say no to anything, but when it comes to making a plan for the betterment of our community, they’re conveniently quiet. Since Project Blue died, have any of those activists come up with a real plan yet, or even a suggestion?

Sergio Mendez

North side

Just the facts, ma’am

If Trump supporters say that they want you to back up something you said with facts, they are lying. They want to waste your time explaining a position they will never consider nor accept. If they liked facts, they wouldn’t be Trump supporters. I don’t waste my time with them anymore. I’m so tired of waking up every day to see what fresh hell Trump has thought up.

Terry Louck

East side

Lawsuit

The Proud Boys, who were convicted for crimes committed during the attack on the government, on Jan. 6, 2021, but were later pardoned by President Trump, have sued the government ($100 million) for violating their constitutional rights. The pendulum has now swung all the way back from where it should be. Convicted criminals are now alleging that someone hurt their feelings during their trials. I doubt anyone who watched the videos of these animals desecrating our place of government can truthfully say that they didn’t do it. The pardon was sacrilegious in itself, but only another sign of the depths our president will sink to. I realize many people actually agree with this stupidity and, while I cannot understand how, they certainly are entitled to their points of view. Perhaps common sense, with time, will prevail.

Philip Reinecker

East side