The financially troubled city of South Tucson is under new leadership.
A final tally of 75 ballots that had not been counted Tuesday night cemented leads for the four challengers that were part of a recall election targeting a majority of the South Tucson City Council.
Those who will lose their seats are Mayor Ildefonso Green and councilmen Rufino Cantu, Robert Larribas and Carlos Romo.
Voters backed Paul Diaz, a former South Tucson mayor, as well as political newcomers Rita Rogers, Herman Lopez and Roberto Teso to take their place on the council.
It is too early to tell who will become the next mayor, as that is decided by council members, not voters.
With only 305 of the 1,983 eligible voters returning their ballots in Tuesday’s mail-in election, challengers beat the incumbents by a roughly 2-to-1 margin, according to results posted by the Pima County Elections Department.
It is not clear when the newly elected council will take over.
Brad Nelson, county elections head, said he expected to have the certification of the results to city officials by Friday.
The results are expected to be accepted by the current council at its next meeting, which has not be scheduled.
The new council majority is facing a worsening financial situation for the city and could make personnel changes in the city’s upper management, with residents concerned about recent decisions to fire the police chief and to make cuts in the Fire Department.
