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Regina Romero grew up as daughter of farmworkers.
Assessment Technology, Inc Social Studies Content Writer Construction Komatsu Equipment Co Mechanic General CORT WAREHOUSE/DRIVER Health Care Rio Salado College PA's/Online Instructors General CORT Warehouse Supervisor OpinionRomero brings devotion to city's challengesOur endorsement: Her knowledge of local issues makes her clear pick in Ward 1
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.26.2007
Almost anyone elected to the Tucson City Council for the first time faces a steep learning curve. Having a feel for the character and needs of the community is one thing; understanding how to convert that knowledge into good public policy is another.
Regina Romero, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the Ward 1 council seat, brings with her a considerable background of experience in helping neighborhoods as an advocate in county and city government.
The Star endorses Romero in the Ward 1 primary. She is among the rarest of candidates, someone who extended her heritage and life's experience into jobs where she could be of service to her community.
Her opponent in the primary is Kenneth Green. A write-in candidate is on the city clerk's list.
In heavily Democratic Ward 1, which includes a large swath of the South and West Sides, the contender who wins the primary inevitably ends up winning the general election.
Romero, 32, was born into a farmworker family in Somerton, south of Yuma. At 15, she says, she decided she wanted to do more with her life than working in the fields following the harvests from Arizona to Colorado.
She eventually moved to Tucson and became the first member of her family to graduate from college. She earned a degree in communication from the University of Arizona.
In a meeting with the Star's editorial board, Romero detailed her views on several issues challenging Tucson and the metropolitan region.
On the issue of the area's growth, Romero stressed the need "to reinvest in our neighborhoods," meaning that Tucson "needs a plan to guide development and an infill strategy." She emphasized the benefit of focusing more attention on "quality-of-life issues."
Romero is a strong advocate of having neighborhood associations and coalitions play a role in the city's decision-making process.
In her work as the Pima County Youth Internship coordinator from 1996 to 2000, and as the Pima County program coordinator for Neighborhood Reinvestment from 2000 to 2005, she worked with more than 20 neighborhoods and the city and county bureaucracies to implement projects that totaled more than $3.5 million.
More recently, Romero worked on community-development issues on the staff of City Council member Karin Uhlich.
"We need to strengthen the neighborhood coalitions because there's strength in numbers," Romero said. She advocates that neighborhoods develop their own action plans, but "empowerment" classes also should be offered that educate residents in how organizing and reaching their goals, she said.
We also agree with Romero's view of Proposition 200, which would eliminate garbage-collection fees and control Tucson's growth by prohibiting new water connections within the city after a prescribed threshold has been reached.
"I don't agree with it," she said. "It's an important issue, but we should be able to have a communitywide conversation about water and growth."
She wisely notes that reversing the monthly garbage fee "leaves a hole of $20 (million) to $24 million in the city budget, funds that enable us to hire more police and firemen."
When discussing transportation, Romero stresses the need for extending bus routes and expanding public transit in general. Eventually, she believes, the city should consider linking the airport with Downtown via light rail.
Regina Romero — she pronounces her first name Reh-HEE-Nah — understands how communities and political systems work and has demonstrated a commitment to public service. Her thoughtful and knowledgeable approach to issues make her the ideal candidate for the City Council.
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