Happy Election Day Eve, Tucson!
I want to cover a few important items leading up to tomorrow’s election.
First things first, our baby girl, Nami, wants to make sure your voice is heard. 😊 If you haven’t voted yet, please make a plan and go vote.
If you still have your mail-in ballot, it’s too late to mail it. You can drop off your ballot at any vote center on Election Day. Please go to pima.vote to access any and all information related to voting, including tracking your ballot.
At a national level, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has been working for years to support election officials and private sector election infrastructure partners in addressing the physical, cyber, and operational security risks they face. Our Secretary of State’s Office has published a webpage listing key information about how they are securing Arizona’s elections, and the Pima County Recorder’s Office has a similar page explaining how they keep our elections secure.
On the physical security front, your Tucson Police Department is fully prepared. I recently visited our Community Safety Awareness Response Center (CSARC) and saw firsthand how the CSARC team and the Threat Mitigation Unit are actively collaborating with federal partners to identify and address potential threats. This proactive approach ensures we’re well-prepared to manage Election Day security across the city.
In addition to our normal staffing on Election Day, TPD Chief Kasmar is deploying approximately 100 additional commissioned personnel across the city to support rapid responses to any issues, should they arise.
Election & Post-Election Interference
And it’s not just Election Day we need to talk about. Foreign adversaries, including Russia, Iran, and China, are actively working to divide Americans and disrupt confidence in our democratic processes. Their strategies include cyber operations, misinformation, and amplifying protests—targeting every stage from voting to inauguration.
Key Tactics by Adversaries:
Cyber Operations: They may attempt to access U.S. election systems, although not necessarily to alter votes. Non-state actors, like hacktivists, may inadvertently cause disruptions.
Misinformation & Disinformation: They exploit moments of uncertainty, such as the period before final vote counts, to spread falsehoods about the integrity of our electoral system.
Protest Amplification: Encouraging or staging protests to create further division, particularly during the certification process or even up to the inauguration, to shake public trust in the political system.
How to Combat These Threats:
Verify Sources: Before sharing any information about the election, check its credibility. Trusted news sources and official government sites are the best places to confirm facts.
Be Cautious with AI Content: AI-generated images and text can spread misinformation quickly. Question sensational or shocking content, especially if it lacks a reliable source.
Prebunking and Debunking: The best defense is proactive. Share resources that explain how to spot fake news and misinformation, so people are prepared when they encounter it.
Avoid Unwitting Amplification: Even if well-meaning, sharing controversial or unverified content only helps adversaries achieve their goal of division.
As a community, staying informed, united, and skeptical of divisive content can prevent foreign adversaries from achieving their objectives. Together, we can ensure that these external forces do not succeed in undermining our democracy and dividing our community.
Explore these post-election threats further in this declassified National Intelligence Council Memorandum, the source for this newsletter piece.
Unsung Heroes of Election Season
Finally, as this election season wraps up, I want to recognize the Tucson Police Department and law enforcement personnel across the country for their tireless work supporting the many political events we’ve seen. Local law enforcement, in partnership with the Secret Service, has put in countless hours to ensure the safety of candidates, their teams, and the community during these visits. TPD personnel have made significant sacrifices—often receiving late notice of visits, rearranging personal schedules, and putting family plans on hold to serve. To me, these dedicated individuals are the unsung heroes of this election season. My deepest gratitude goes to the entire City of Tucson team for their commitment and sacrifices in supporting our democratic process.
Happy Veterans Day
Before diving into our October lookback and November lookahead, I want to take a moment to honor my fellow veterans. Happy Veterans Day to each of you. Thank you for your dedication, sacrifices, and service to our country. Today, may you feel the deep appreciation of our community. Enjoy this day—you’ve earned it.
October Highlights:
Davis-Monthan (DM) Valley Council
Last month, I attended the biannual DM Valley Council meeting, a priority for me as it offers valuable insights into Davis-Monthan's activities, initiatives, and the well-being of airmen and their families. It’s a great opportunity to stay connected with base leadership and understand their objectives. Here are some things I’d like to pass along.
Wilmot Gate Reconstruction
A key project for Ward 4 and our community is the reconstruction of the Wilmot Gate at DM. This effort will reduce traffic congestion around Golf Links intersections with Craycroft and Swan. Importantly, local contractors are handling the construction, supporting our economy. Once completed, the new gate and inspection facility will provide quicker access to and from the base, with an expected opening in early 2026. The entire project should wrap up within 18 months.
Hurricane Helene Recovery
Airmen from Davis-Monthan's 563rd Personnel Recovery Task Force recently carried out a remarkable rescue mission in North Carolina, responding to survivors stranded after Hurricane Helene. Spotting a “HELP” sign, they quickly mobilized, using HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters to reach those in need despite tough conditions. This operation showcases the incredible skills and dedication of our local airmen, highlighting their essential role in disaster response and recovery across the nation.
Ongoing Transition
DM continues its significant transition as the iconic A-10 aircraft are retired, making way for new missions and units. This transition will bring fresh capabilities and opportunities to the base, reinforcing its role in national defense and our local economy, while creating new support needs for the airmen and their families. As DM evolves, our community remains committed to supporting this new chapter and the airmen who serve here.
Boo Bash
This year’s Boo Bash, a city-wide event that took place at Lincoln Park, was a blast. It’s always great to see so many folks come out and kickoff the holiday season at this great city event. Thank you to my team for making sure we had a space to connect with the community and hand out candy. 😊
Congratulations to Lara, our Director of Parks & Recreation, and her entire team for pulling off another fantastic event! That’s Lara’s dog, not a real lion...I promise. 😉
We saw many adorable costumes and lots of smiles that evening. You can view the full photo album here.
ReSources Ribbon Cutting
I'm proud to continue our support of the ReSource Vail Food Bank in their mission to help families in need. With a 26% increase in emergency food demand in their service area, much of it from City of Tucson Ward 4 residents, we recognized the importance of stepping up again. Through $55,000 in Ward 4 American Rescue Plan funds, ReSources expanded its storage capacity by 30%, allowing them to provide more food assistance, including weekend meal backpacks for kids in the Vail School District. Feeding children and families in need is one of the most impactful uses of these funds. Thank you to Callie, the ReSources team, and all the volunteers who work tirelessly to nourish our community.
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We're thrilled to partner with the Tucson Fire Fighters Association (TFFA) and ReSources again this year to help provide holiday meals for families in Southeast Tucson. Once more, we'll serve as a bridge between these two incredible organizations, supporting ReSources in getting Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to those in need. We will share more about that in our December newsletter.
You can learn more about ReSources, and how to access support, by visiting their website.
Valencia Road: Kolb Road to Houghton Road Improvement Project
The Valencia Road Improvement Project is underway! This RTA project will widen Valencia Road to six lanes from Kolb to Houghton, along with other upgrades to improve traffic flow and safety. I know road construction can be frustrating, so please be patient as you navigate this area—it’ll be so much better once complete. Construction is expected to wrap up in about 18 months, bringing much-needed improvements to one of our key routes.
Thank you to Rudy Lopez for coming out to represent the Rita Ranch Neighborhood Association—and then going on to ride 52 miles on his bicycle afterward! Ensuring safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians is a top priority for us in this community.
Here are some project highlights, and you can learn more and follow along with this project here.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month Proclamation
Huge thanks to Mayor Romero for the Cybersecurity Awareness Month Proclamation last month. It's always a privilege to recognize the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to protect our city's data, systems, and infrastructure. A special shout-out to Chuck Boyer, Lloyd Adams, and Ed Buster for joining us in person!
Every City of Tucson employee plays a crucial role in our cybersecurity efforts, whether they realize it or not. Our employees are our greatest asset—and sometimes our greatest risk—when it comes to protecting our systems. Practicing good cyber hygiene is a shared responsibility, and it takes all of us to keep our city secure.
Coming Up This Month
We have two Mayor & Council Meetings this month, on the 7th and the 19th. You can see the agendas, materials, and watch the meetings if you’d like to plug into what we’re working on.
I’ve requested two important items for our meetings this month – our “Annual Update on SkillBridge and Veteran Programs within the City of Tucson” (on the 7th) and a “One Year Follow Up Discussion regarding No Racing Photo Enforcement Zones” to help us address illegal street racing & intersection takeovers (on the 19th).
I'm thrilled to hear from Matthew Langseth, our Military Veteran Program Coordinator, who will share the impressive progress we’ve made in the past year. His presentation, available for review before the meeting, highlights the numbers, achievements, and faces of transitioning service members we've supported through SkillBridge—a program that means so much to me personally.
As a quick reminder, the DoD SkillBridge program connects active-duty service members with civilian job training and internships in their last 180 days of service, easing their transition to the workforce. As a SkillBridge employer, the City of Tucson provides hands-on experience across city departments, supporting transitioning service members in launching their civilian careers while enriching our workforce with skilled, mission-driven individuals like Jason McCoy.
Jason, who recently transitioned from Active Duty, served as the Command Sergeant Major at the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command at Fort Huachuca. For context, a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) is the highest enlisted leader in a unit, overseeing the welfare, training, and readiness of thousands of troops. As a senior advisor to the commanding officer, the CSM bridges the gap between officers and enlisted ranks, making it one of the military's most respected roles.
We're incredibly fortunate to have Jason and our other SkillBridge interns and employees in our organization. They bring unparalleled skills, experience, and leadership that strengthen the City of Tucson’s ability to serve our community.
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