The last 18 months of politics is screaming out for change. We’ve witnessed a new low bar having been set for civility and honest debate. And we’ve seen yet again the impact money is having on our political system. I believe we can do better.
This column is my formal announcement that I’m again applying to work for you on the Tucson City Council. And I am announcing now that this campaign will be fundamentally different than what we just witnessed.
Public service is a job. It’s a job for which the public holds us accountable for the decisions we make. Those include how we handle your finances, as well as the causes we champion throughout the community. And we’re held accountable for our willingness to put in the hours necessary to do this job right, and for taking the extra time to ensure everyone has a voice in our decisions.
We’re accountable for the entire body of our work.
I am reapplying to do this job to ensure that in reaching our full potential, Tucson remains the wonderful place that it is. But when we see candidates for office resort to the bitter and ugly personal attacks that just occurred, and when we see spending at the excessive levels it has reached, one wonders what the true motivations are behind such campaigns.
I said above that this campaign will be fundamentally different than what we just witnessed. It is a job application. I now have a record that I present for your consideration. That includes the work I’ve done getting us to a structurally balanced budget. It includes my work in areas related to the revitalization of downtown, smart regional economic development, and protecting home rule. It includes my work on behalf of victims of trafficking, drug addiction and education, gun safety and animal welfare. And it includes community work bridging the gaps that are caused by religious and racial bigotry.
I will recognize the built-in advantage of incumbency and a good record, and with that I will set the example of pulling money out of politics. During this campaign, I will not be asking for financial donations. Instead, I look forward to meeting with you in your living rooms and at events, sitting talking about our community and hearing your thoughts and ideas about the issues that are important to you.
Somebody has to be first to set the example of changing the unhealthy trajectory of what money is doing to our political system. I’m going to give it a whirl. I ask that you consider donating any money you would have otherwise given to my re-election to a local non-profit you find worthy of support. There are plenty throughout the community.
Why announce now eleven months before the election? Before the inauguration, and before the state legislature has returned to session after the November election? To send a clear and unmistakable signal that in the aftermath of the recent ugly and divisive political season, I’ll be all-in on continuing to defend Tucson, our values, and the progress we’re making. We’re better than the political rhetoric we’ve been hearing.
We hear all the time politicians say we need to address the excessive influence of money in politics. I am announcing a candidacy that will act on that claim. Call it performing without a safety net, but I will not be asking any of you for donations to this campaign. Let’s see what happens when a person is simply applying to constituents for a reappointment to the job he’s been doing, and not asking them to dip into their wallets.
We hear all the time politicians claim to be running on their record. But the negative advertising clouds that message. In the past 7 years I’ve been accessible to constituents and to the press. In this campaign none of that will change. Politics can and should be a civil discussion of policy. That’s where this campaign will go.
We’ve just seen how Independently funded campaigns enter the process and muddy the politics – if they come, judge my record. I look forward to meeting with you on a personal level. We’ll be talking policy, and we’ll be talking Tucson.
All of that means I may have to work harder since I won’t be buying advertising or any of those signs that clutter our streetcorners. But a funny thing will happen when we take money out of the process – you’ll get to know me on a personal level.
As public officials, we’re doing a job for the community. Judge me on how well I’ve done that.
Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik represents Ward 6.
This article appears in Dec 1-7, 2016.
Such a great man, the picture of integrity! I love SteveK because he is a real human being and has a strong core that motivates everything he does. Though I live in the County and cannot vote for him, I am here to say that I will volunteer and do anything I can to make sure he gets re-elected. Tucson is lucky to have him work for our city. He always stands for what is RIGHT! Thank you for your service! You are 1 in a MILLION!
Steve K., starring in Trading Places. Watch Steve disregard State Laws and throw the Constitution into the fire.
I own a business in Ward 6. I have found Steve and his staff to always be available and interested in whatever assistance I have requested. He is very practical and realistic in addressing the concerns of our community. I’m a big fan!
We need fresh ideas and respect for the constitution and Bill of Rights, not Kozachik.
Interesting that two out of four respondents accuse Kozachik of abandoning the Constitution and the Bill of Rights without providing any factual evidence… It seems as though they either dislike Steve on a personal level ot they simply don’t understand either of the Founding documents the mention…
I remember when Steve was a republican, voters trusted him,voted him in and then the betrayal he flipped over to the d side. Can’t trust this guy, Steve is for himself not the hard working tax payers.
If he will drop sanctuary city status I will vote for him. Anything less will not do.
Bravo, Steve! You are an honorable man.
If I remember correctly, Steve first left the Republican party and then registered and ran for his second term as a Democrat because the Republican party, even here in Pima County, proved inhospitable to a centrist Republican council member. Republican or Democrat, Steve is the same intelligent, honest, hard-working council member for whom I wish I could vote.
Putting all else aside, how is it OK that one candidate gets a guest opinion that is in essence a political advertisement for himself? Did the candidate pay for this advertisement? Does the Weekly intend to extend the same opportunity to other candidates in the future?
He has my vote. He questions whether expenses like the too wide expansion of the Broadway Corridor are relevant with today’s traffic projections. He cares about neighborhoods and works hard to solve problems with matters affecting them. Even in matters where I might disagree, I feel he has thought through things and made choices, rather doing the politically expedient.
Pass. Another disconnected dogmatic political lifer is not what Tucson needs.
Judy Burns never spent a dollar running for reelection to the TUSD board — and was easily reelected twice.
But isn’t that a lot like saying Grijalva really doesn’t need to advertise for his reelection. For unknown reasons people will get out and vote for him. Or at least they used to. Trumps win is causing voters to think twice about what they have been doing, what they have been expecting, and what they have never gotten.
So the national democrat standing is really in shambles….They lost the Whitehouse, the Senate, the US House of Representatives, a number of governorships, many state Houses, and State Senate’s….how do you Democrat/Progressives think that you can recover those losses? With boobs like Special K?…..even on a low level elected idiot like SK….you cannot change the attitude of the country that you folks have driven into the dirt… Less government regulations, less government in general….let the free market reign…Progressives?not so much really…..more like digressives…..
Nice announcement but SteveK has violated Arizona’s resign to run law since this announcement came prior to his being in his last year of his term which falls on the first Monday in December, the 6th. Other politicians such as Roy Laos and Conrad Joyner fought the law in court and lost and had to resign their seats, just like SteveK will have to.
Steve K what we just witnessed was Hillary wasting two billion dollars because her ideas were the same as Obamas and we struggled the last eight years with his miserable decisions. If you have not violated the law as stated above, you are going to need a strong vision for the future.
Make Tucson great again wont work, because it still hasnt been.
Wrong, Again:
Relax snowflake.
Just change your Pampers and everything will be fine.
When you start typing things that are condescending, inconsiderate and just plain nasty…your nonsense posts may actually be removed. If you could learn (*trying real hard to keep from laughing*) to be nice (*chuckle*) all your posts would probably stay intact. People with a sliver of common sense might actually pay attention to your solid information (*HA HA HA HA HA! Oops, so sorry.*) if you just, you know, toned your misplaced anger down a bit.
Good luck with that. You’re gonna need it.
Walking the talk in this way is courageous and will surely win you a good deal of support, Steve. The comment above about Judy Burns made by Mark Stegeman is well taken. Many, many voters are sick and tired of the money in politics; you are showing the way.
Thank you for your continuing support of your constituency Steve. The Trump Trainers can please
Remember this is Tucson and follow their own advice If they don’t like that fact!
Civility and respect. Actually listening to ideas even if they are contrary to your stated beliefs. Working hard to understand the issues and find reasonable solutions. Producing results that benefit the community at large, not just one segment of it. Being accessible and engaging in active problem-solving. Not being afraid to try out new approaches. These are attributes that make Steve K one of the best political leaders in Arizona. In a democracy, the government is us. If we do not choose our political leaders well, it is our own fault. Steve K is a good leader and a forward thinker. Thanks for the hard work and let’s see if this idea of winning elections based on the job instead of the personality will take hold.
My greyhounds and I will follow Steve K. anywhere. He was a one man band like a dog to a bone in pointing the finger at the Tucson Greyhound Park atrocities. Mercifully, that hell hole ended live dog racing on June 25, 2016. And for that I’m thankful as I’m sure are the 252 dogs that left the track and went into adoptive homes. Another 150 or so went to racing servitude elsewhere and some went to an Orange County blood bank as blood donating captives for 1 or 2 years.
Steve also has common sense regarding guns, the Broadway expansion and bringing more movie and TV filming into Pima County to fill our hotels, restaurants and economy.
He’s got my vote.
The Green Party candidate for Pima County attorney (me) didn’t fundraise, asked supporters to donate to the causes they cared about, and refused to put up signs. That was back in 2016. But as a woman, I’m pretty used to having a man take credit for doing something I’ve done. #thatswhatshesaid #hesaiditsotheyheardit
Unfortunately, the trolls are at it again. Do they actually ever consider engaging in serious discussion with fellow citizens about issues. (That question is rhetorical. No response expected.)
Steve K. is what used to be considered a moderate Republican. (I believe he switched to Democrat because his party was so unwelcoming of any moderate views.) Even though I am left of center, I support Steve. He is always well informed and is responsive to his constituency.
Steve, you started your political life with a lie and then you have hidden behind the shirttails of all the old tired Tucson Demorats raising taxes at every chance you could get. You’ve help build monorails that run empty to nowhere, an expensive downtown that no citizens other that the rich, out of town visitors, or ignorant UofA students want to go to. You’ve promised street repairs which never happen and demanded we give up our 2nd amendment rights, and you’ve even defied State Laws for you pet peeves. You only represent those that have twisted liberal views such as your and you have never in your life been a conservative. You are just another ignorant tax and spend twit. Let some with big boy pants step and turn the horrendous city government around.