Dem sweep in Tucson confirmed as ballot count completed

Tucson voters on Tuesday gave a vote of confidence in their elected officials. Not only did the city’s sitting mayor and council members return in a sweep by incumbent Democrats, but they may also give them big pay raises.

Well, at least 30% of registered voters in the city did, according to the city election’s final vote count and turnout.

While still unofficial, ballots are now counted, according to the county’s 2023 Consolidated Election website.

Of the 409,687 registered voters in the city, they say, 132,319 voted, a turnout of about 32%.

The closest contested race was clear: Proposition 413. As of Friday afternoon, its potential passage by a margin of 299 votes means Tucson’s mayor and city council will be receiving their first raises since 1999. It passed with 50.16% of votes

Since 1999, Tucson’s mayor has had an annual salary of $42,000, while council members were paid $24,000 per year.

Mayor Regina Romero’s salary will now increase to $95,750. The annual salary of the city’s six council members will jump to $76,600 annually. This year’s measure is the highest pay raise to date, giving the mayor and council members a nearly 130% and 220% boost, respectively.

Prop. 413 also ties Tucson’s elected officials’ annual income to the earnings of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, whose salaries are set to increase by $20,000 at the start of 2025 in accordance with state statute,. That means the mayor and council salaries also could see another bump then.

Romero won the mayoral race with 57,512 votes compared to Republican challenger Janet Wittenbraker, who had 30,704 and Independent Ed Ackerly who had 6,239. That is about 60%, 32% and 7% of the vote, respectively, results show.

In Ward 1, Democrat incumbent Lane Santa Cruz won their second term, collecting 58,247 votes, about 62% of the votes. Republican Victoria Lem had 35,814 votes, or about 38%, election results Friday showed.

In Ward 2, incumbent Paul Cunningham won his bid for a fourth term Tuesday night, receiving 59,917 votes, or about 64%. Republican Ernie Shack had 30,953 votes, or about 33% , according to election totals.

In Ward 4, Nikki Lee was reelected to her second term. Lee had 60,110 votes, or about 65% . Republican candidate Ross Kaplowitch collected 32,739 votes, or about 35%, results showed Friday afternoon.