Tucson City Council member Paul Cunningham, a Democrat, won his bid for a fourth term Tuesday night.Β
In the Ward 2 race, Cunningham had just over 64% of the vote so far to Republican challenger Ernie Shack's 32%. Libertarian Pendleton Spicer had 4%.
Ernie Shack the Ward 2 republican candidate holds a pamphlet that reads βHow does agenda 2030 affect youβ during the Republican election night watch party at Firetruck Brewing Co., 4746 East Grant Road, Tucson, Ariz., November 7, 2023.
There were 95% of precincts reporting by 8:45 p.m.
Cunningham led campaign fundraising in the race, as he reported raising $86,860 with $51,750 in contributions and $35,110 in public matching funds as of October.
Shack had raised $6,008, including $4,813 in donations from seven contributors. Spicer reported raising $1,360.
Cunningham, a teacher at Gridley Middle School, was first appointed to the Ward 2 office in 2010 and elected in 2011. Heβs a former juvenile probation officer and has been a public school teacher for more than 10 years.
During the last four years, he said heβs βmost proud of getting us through the pandemic minimizing the damage inflicted.β The focus now, Cunningham said, is dealing with pandemic-related consequences such as housing shortages and the growing unsheltered population.
After winning a new term, Cunningham said his focus would be βto have a more functional service-oriented government on the east sideβ by creating a βone-stop shopβ for city services such as water, police and fire in east Tucson. Cunningham also said he hopes to continue local neighborhood improvements. His office has made significant headway on building playgrounds, recreational fields and splash pads, he says.
