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Uhlich: Democrats 'won big' in Tucson election
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Uhlich: Democrats 'won big' in Tucson election

Mayor: Tucson 'decided to keep its team in play'

  • Councilwoman Uhlich celebrated her re-election on Tuesday night.
    Angeline Carbajal/TucsonSentinel.comCouncilwoman Uhlich celebrated her re-election on Tuesday night.
  • Dylan Smith/TucsonSentinel.com
  • Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia reviews election returns Tuesday.
    Paul M. Ingram/TucsonSentinel.comRepublican Ben Buehler-Garcia reviews election returns Tuesday.
  • Steve Kozachik ran unopposed for re-election, his first race as a Democrat.
    Angeline Carbajal/TucsonSentinel.comSteve Kozachik ran unopposed for re-election, his first race as a Democrat.
  • Republican candidate Mike Polak on election night.
    Paul M. Ingram/TucsonSentinel.comRepublican candidate Mike Polak on election night.
  • South Side Democrat Richard Fimbres cruised to re-election.
    Angeline Carbajal/TucsonSentinel.comSouth Side Democrat Richard Fimbres cruised to re-election.
  • Democrats gathered at the Riverpark Inn, 350 S. Freeway, to await election results Tuesday night.
    Dylan Smith/TucsonSentinel.comDemocrats gathered at the Riverpark Inn, 350 S. Freeway, to await election results Tuesday night.

With the Democratic incumbents sweeping in Tuesday's election results, Mayor Jonathan Rothschild said "The city has decided to keep its team in play."

In what was expected to be the most competitive contest, a rematch versus Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia, Councilwoman Karin Uhlich led the challenger with 58 percent of the vote.

"It shows we're on the right track," she told a crowd of about 150 Democrats at the Riverpark Inn near Downtown. "We won and we won big."

"They targeted us from the get-go. There was a lot of money spent," she said.

"Richard and I were able to point to what we were able to accomplish," Uhlich said in an interview. "People are done beating up Tucson ... they know what makes Tucson special. People are ready to get up and move this community forward."

Despite being down 10,000 votes, the two Republican challengers wouldn't concede Tuesday night, saying they wanted to wait for a tally of the ballots turned in on Election Day.

"It isn't over until it's over. Many ballots were turned in today, so we need to wait for those to be counted," Buehler-Garcia told a group of about 50 Republicans gathered at Sir Veza's on Wetmore Road.

City officials said there were about 6,000 ballots remained to be counted Tuesday night. Just under 27 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in the election.

The Republican said he was surprised he "lost 10,000 votes from last election," and that he thinks the city's mail-in ballot has failed in its objective to expand voter participation.

"We ran a heck of a campaign, but having talked to voters we think there's a problem with vote by mail," Buehler-Garcia said.

Councilman Richard Fimbres led Republican first-timer Mike Polak by nearly as wide a margin, while unchallenged incumbent Councilman Steve Kozachik garnered 93 percent of the vote.

Polak was also critical of mail-in ballots. "It looks like we need to go back to traditional voting. I also think that the change in the polling places that people are used to going to," he said.

Election results

Tucson City Council

Ward 3

Karin Uhlich, Dem. 34708 58%
Ben Buehler-Garcia, Rep. 24589 41%

Ward 5

Richard Fimbres, Dem. 35464 60%
Mike Polak, Rep. 23206 40%

Ward 6

Steve Kozachik, Dem. 42398 93%

Vail incorporation

Yes 1162 43%
No 1523 57%

City propositions

Prop. 401: Base Expenditure Increase Yes 35186 No 21487
Prop. 402: Plan Tucson Yes 36886 No 19147

School district propositions

Sunnyside Prop. 405 Yes 2260 No 2544
Catalina Foothills Prop. 406 Yes 3986 No 2420
Catalina Foothills Prop. 407 Yes 3827 No 2176
Altar Valley Prop 408 Yes 330 No 504

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