South Tucson is expected to get the results Tuesday of a mail-in recall election to determine whether Mayor Paul Diaz will stay in office.
Diaz is the target of the recall by political opponents who accuse him of taking actions detrimental to the financially struggling town.
Running against him is local resident Robert Larribas.
The Diaz recall petition, circulated last year stated: “He failed to uphold his campaign promises of transparency and public safety and is taking actions that are detrimental to South Tucson.”
It accuses Diaz of “giving the green light” to Pasadera Behavioral Health Network to open a residential drug-treatment facility across the street from Mission View Elementary School, 2600 S. Eighth Ave.
In election paperwork, Diaz said the town does not have the legal authority to get involved in a private business transaction outside of making sure all laws are followed related to permits.
“My position as an elected official must adhere to all legal judgment in matters brought before the council. As such, we had no legal right to stop the private land sale between Pasadera and the Arizona Children’s Home Association,” Diaz wrote in election paperwork.
Diaz was elected to the City Council in 2011 and moved up to the mayor’s seat in 2013, when former Mayor Jennifer Eckstrom resigned.
