Politics

Consuelo Hernandez Expected to Run for Elias' Seat

Posted By Austin Counts on Tue, Mar 31, 2020 at 9:12 AM

There are now two new Democratic candidates running for the Pima County Supervisors District 5 seat left vacant after Supervisor Richard Elias died this past Saturday.

Consuelo Hernandez filed a Statement of Interest as well as a Statement of Organization with the Pima County Elections Department on Monday, according to Mary Martinson, elections unit supervisor for Pima County Elections Department.

Hernandez is currently running for Pima County Recorder after long-time county recorder F. Ann Rodriguez announced she will not seek reelection for an eighth term. It is unclear whether or not Hernandez intends to run for both offices. Should she win both campaigns, she would have to choose which office she planned to serve.

Adelita Grijalva also filed a statement of interest for the District 5 seat yesterday. However, she has yet to file a statement of organization at this time. Grijalva's decision to run is supported by Elias' surviving wife and daughter, Emily, and Luz, according to Grijalva's Facebook post announcement.

Grijalva's father, Congressman Raul Grijalva served as a Pima County Supervisor for District 5 from 1989 to 2002, when he resigned his position to run for Arizona's 7th congressional district. Elias was appointed to her father's vacant seat.

While the primary election is in August, the four remaining supervisors will have to choose a replacement for Elias to serve the remainder of his term. Supervisors are expected to discuss that process, which normally involves interviews and forums with applicants, at the next regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, April 7, according to Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson.

Tags: district 5 , vote , hernandez , grijalva , pima county , supervisor , Image

Politics News News

Adelita Grijalva Announces Bid For Elias' Seat

Posted By Austin Counts on Mon, Mar 30, 2020 at 2:17 PM

click to enlarge

Adelita Grijalva Announces Bid For Elias' Seat

Adelita Grijalva campaign

Tucson Unified School District Board Member Adelita Grijalva announced her intention to run for the Pima County District 5 seat in a Facebook post this afternoon. The announcement comes days District 5 Supervisor Richard Elias died on Saturday and just a week before the filing deadline to seek the office.

From the FB post:

The loss of Richard Eliás comes as our lives already feel turned upside down. With his sudden death, we have lost a true champion for Pima County. While we have no public opportunity to grieve or support one another, we are quickly approaching an April 6th election deadline that will not budge.

With the support of Emily and Luz Eliás, and with great pride and sorrow, I announce my candidacy for Pima County Supervisor District 5. I never expected to be in this position, to stand up under these circumstances to protect all that Richard stood for and cared about.

With your help, we must continue to fight for our shared progressive values and continue Richard's lasting legacy for our children and for our future. We must come together to protect our hard working families, our Sonoran Desert and our beloved Tucson. We cannot afford to lose our voice on the Pima County Board. I humbly ask for your support and help today, as we take this important step forward together.

Resist. Much love.

Thanks,
Adelita

Grijalva will be in a race against time trying to collect 199 signatures from registered democrats in District 5 before the Monday, April 6 deadline.

Tags: district 5 , elias , grijalva , seat , Image

Community Info Politics

Gov. Ducey signs legislation providing education guidelines

Posted By Logan Burtch-Buus on Fri, Mar 27, 2020 at 2:49 PM

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Gov. Ducey signs legislation providing education guidelines

Tucson Local Media File Photo

As the question of whether Arizona’s public schools will reopen before the scheduled date of summer break hangs in the air, administrators now know they will not have to extend the academic year.

Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation Friday that ensures school will not have to make up for days lost due to statewide closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During this unprecedented time, parents and educators need certainty so they can plan and make decisions—and this bill provides it,” said Ducey in a statement. “It protects our teachers and prioritizes our students, ensuring kids continue to receive instruction even with schools closed.”
House Bill 2910, introduced by State Rep. Michelle Udall (R-Mesa), also requires public schools to begin offering education via “alternative formats” while the schools are closed. Ducey has ordered them shuttered at least through April 10.

If the closure lasts through the end of the academic year, the new law requires schools to provide instruction until summer break is scheduled to begin. If the closure ends before that time, schools have the option to either resume physical operations or stick with technology-based distance learning.

The bill also moves the testing window for statewide assessments back to May 31.
School transportation fleets, including school buses, may be used to perform school operations “that are deemed to support students and their families during the statewide closure as determined by the public school.”

Teachers are expected to continue providing education during the closure, with both salaried and hourly employees now guaranteed their pay.

HB 2910 also allows for schools to reassign employees whose work cannot be done remotely, and eases statutory requirements for the delivery of special education as long as a school can ensure “to the greatest extent possible” that students covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act receive special education services and access to alternative modes of teaching.

“This is what coming together to support our kids and families looks like, and Arizona is again leading the way,” Ducey said.

Tags: ducey , hb2910 , sign , schools , education , remote , telework , azmerit , covid19 , Image