When Democrat Richard Elías was first appointed to the board of supervisors in February 2002, his opponent in the upcoming November election was 6 years old.
Now 20 and a student at Pima Community College, the Green Party’s Martin Bastidas is far and away the youngest candidate in the supervisor contest.
He’ll also face a tough race against Elías, who has been elected once, reelected three times and represents a heavily Democratic district. Nearly 52 percent of the district’s registered voters are in Elías’ party. As with the county as a whole, Greens make up a very small portion — less than .6 percent — of registered voters in District 5.
Like his Green Party counterpart in the District 4 race, Bastidas filed paperwork with the county elections office stating he would not raise or spend more than $500 on his campaign. In contrast, Elías has raised about $37,000 and spent over $17,000 through the end of the most recent campaign finance reporting period.
Q. Caterpillar’s move to Pima County, along with several other developments, has been pointed to as evidence that the county’s economic landscape is improving. However, some have criticized the taxpayer-funded incentives and other means used to attract businesses to the area. What are your thoughts on the county’s recent role in economic development? Would you push for a different approach?
Bastidas: My thoughts on the county’s recent role in economic development is that the county is giving tax incentives to corporations, who in reality do not need the money. Instead of recruiting companies to Pima County, we should prioritize investing in our infrastructure and as a direct result, these companies will not need incentives to come to Pima County. Businesses would be attracted if Pima County had much better infrastructure.
Elías: I have supported Pima County’s economic-development efforts to date. The county has limited ability to provide direct incentives to attract business and industry. The state of Arizona and cities have greater scope in this arena and often pair with us to provide benefits. We have been successful in offering such companies as Accelerate Diagnostics, World View Enterprises, and Caterpillar with space we have improved to suit their needs. These companies have signed legally binding lease agreements that guarantee that the county is repaid over their terms. We offer these companies the benefit of our quality internal and contracted job-training programs. An ethical standard must be applied. I am skeptical that we should help Monsanto come here, with its long history of questionable business practices.
Q. Roads, and their often poor condition, are a perennial source of complaints in Pima County. What do you think is the best approach to improve the condition of county roads in coming years?
Bastidas: Pima County roads are some of the worst in the nation. I believe the best approach to improve the condition of Pima County roads in the coming years is by enacting a half-cent sales tax for approximately 10 years. For too long we have been finding excuses instead of finding ways to fix our roads. It’s not easy, but if we really wanted to fix our roads we would have done it. It is the lack of political will that is stopping the county. If we allocated all the funds being wasted on recruiting businesses towards infrastructure, our infrastructure would be much better.
Elías: The most sensible tool we have to address our deteriorating road conditions is the gasoline tax, which has not been raised since 1991 despite the ravages of accumulated inflation over those 25 years. Unfortunately only the legislature and governor can increase the gasoline tax. We can, and must, do a better job of marshaling the funds we have to address this problem and we need to find a funding source that is equitable and appropriate.
Some of the plans we have on the table for expensive road-widening need to be revisited. Buying hundreds of established homes and businesses to widen roads, that also are very costly to build, is of questionable value. Such wide roads encourage wasteful higher speeds and pose grave dangers to pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders. Some of this money would be better used to recondition deteriorating streets and fill potholes.
Q. What is the most significant problem or issue facing your district, and what would you do to address it?
Bastidas: The most significant problem facing District 5 is the lack of infrastructure investment. When we invest more in infrastructure we are creating jobs and becoming competitive with other counties by creating a business friendly environment. We need to prioritize fixing Pima County roads. Big infrastructure projects like creating a high-speed rail system from Tucson to Phoenix would create jobs for Pima County, Pinal County and Maricopa County, which would help increase the economy of these three counties. If the state isn’t helping in these projects then we as counties should take leadership and find ways to create a more prosperous Arizona.
Elías: Many of my constituents need jobs, or better-paying jobs, so I provide vigorous support for our job-creation and workforce-training programs. District 5 is a largely urban district and plaguing it is the aging infrastructure of its many older and established neighborhoods. Much of the district is in the city of Tucson and we work with our city partners to combine federal and state money with our own to address these issues — such as a lack of sidewalks, streetlights and park amenities — and to create infill with affordable housing.
Q. What is the most significant problem or issue facing the county as a whole, and what would you do to address it?
Bastidas: The most significant problem facing the county is cronyism. We have to stop this current way of running Pima County. If elected, I plan to terminate Mr. (Chuck)Huckleberry’s (the county administrator) contract because of his ineffective leadership. Mr. Huckleberry has been in office for 20 years and we are still one of the poorest metropolitan areas in the nation. He is the second highest paid county administrator in the nation and despite this fact, the board still voted to approve his bloated salary of over $320,000 a year. Let’s end this current administration and move towards one that will care for the people of Pima County.
Elías: The number-one challenge for Pima County as a whole is the need to create or bring in good-paying jobs for working families. We should continue to do this with targeted investments. The businesses we help to get started here or to locate here stimulate the economy with their employee payrolls, their interaction with local educational institutions, and their use of local suppliers for their products. We structure lease agreements with these companies to make taxpayers whole by the end of their terms.
Q. Why should voters pick you over your opponent?
Bastidas: I ask for your vote because I will invest in county infrastructure and work hard to find ways for Pima County to get out of debt and lift our economy. We are currently one of the poorest metropolitan areas in the nation. We are billions of dollars in debt. Pima County invested $15 million in this company named World View, a spaceport company for space tourism. Each ride costs $75,000.
We put a second mortgage on county property for a speculative company that did not even want to provide information to the Board of Supervisors meeting. My opponent has voted to pass this sweetheart deal and also voted for Chuck Huckleberry’s absurd salary . My opponent has wasted thousands of taxpayer dollars by giving taxpayer funds to nonprofit organizations. These kinds of actions are obstructions for progress in Pima County.
Elías: I have a proven and consistent track record of successfully supporting and promoting environmental issues related to protecting clean air, clean water, and the health and vitality of our Sonoran Desert. I vocally supported a $15-an-hour minimum wage with the Service Employees International Union long before that became a rallying cry for local Green Party candidates like my opponent.
I know how to work with my diverse colleagues and city of Tucson counterparts to advance programs and projects that benefit our communities. I have a proud history of working hand-in-hand with elements of our society — Latinos, LGBTQ residents, immigrants, Native Americans, African Americans, refugees — who need a voice but too often are neglected and overlooked.
