ARIZONA DAILY STAR:  Thurs., Aug. 6, 2009

Tucson to sue state over nonpartisan-vote law

By Rob O'Dell

Tucson will sue the state to stop the implementation of nonpartisan, ward-only elections mandated by the Legislature. The City Council on Wednesday voted 5-1 to challenge the new law.  Mayor Bob Walkup was the only dissenting vote. 

In mid-July, Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill eliminating partisan city elections anywhere in Arizona, although the only place that still holds partisan elections is Tucson.  It also eliminates Tucson's system of nominating candidates in ward primary elections, then electing them in a citywide general election. Candidates will now need to win their wards in the general election as well.

Council members said the Legislature should not be meddling in local Tucson issues.  Councilwoman Regina Romero said the city needs to take action to protect the Tucson City Charter and Tucson voters, who didn't get the chance to vote on the measure.  The issue was not about nonpartisan elections or ward-only elections, said Councilwoman Nina Trasoff, but the Legislature telling Tucson how to run its own elections.  Councilman Steve Leal was the most dramatic, saying the city was resisting the state's dictatorial rule the same way American colonists resisted British rule.