Tucson Standard

Tucson's Mayor and Council have initiated the process to find a replacement for Steve Kozachik as the council member in Ward 6, who recently left to join Pima County. The City Charter outlines the criteria for the selection, as explained by City Attorney Mike Rankin. According to Rankin, the new member must have been a qualified elector in the City of Tucson for three years, with at least the last year spent as a qualified elector in Ward 6.

While the Charter does not mandate that the new member be from the same party as the former council member, Mayor and Council have decided that the seat should be filled by a Democrat, considering the voters had elected a Democrat previously. Regarding the timeline for the appointment, Rankin mentioned that there is no specific deadline set by the Charter but emphasized the importance of acting promptly.

As part of the selection process, applications are being accepted until April 15, and interested individuals are required to submit a letter of interest and resume. The Mayor and Council will then select four top-ranked applicants and conduct in-person interviews with them at the end of April to determine the most suitable candidate for the position.

With the goal of ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining representation for Ward 6 residents, the City of Tucson is actively engaged in the process of filling the council vacancy in a timely manner.