Tucson City Manager Michael Ortega told the City Councilmembers that he is only filling open positions in public safety due to “budget concerns. Ortega advised the Council that the City is expecting $2.4 million less in revenue than it budgeted.
Tucson is currently the fifth poorest metropolitan area in the country, and is sinking into disrepair at a rapid clip. Yet, the Tucson City Council is desperate to hang onto their power. As a result, they ignored Republicans and a Ninth Circuit ruling this month, and certified the November 3 General Election results.
Five of the members of the Council approved filing a petition for en banc rehearing of the Ninth Circuit’s ruling that the current hybrid elections system is unconstitutional. Members Shirley Scott and Paul Cunningham recused themselves from the vote because they lost in their wards, but won across the city and a change in the system would impact them.
In 7-0 vote, the Council also approved Christopher Magnus as the next Tucson Police Chief. Magnus is expected to start on January 1 or earlier and will earn an annual salary of $200,000 plus benefits.
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