With the city’s — one contested — primary election now behind us, it’s time for Tucson business leaders to turn their attention to the Nov. 3 general election.

The tendency is to overlook local elections. But these smaller elections mean each vote is more significant to the outcome.

Nobody should be better aware of the impact of local elected officials than business leaders. But where have business leaders been?

Print this story Email this story Post a Comment ADVERTISEMENT

It’s a common rhetorical theme for Tucson politicians to decry “special interests” — their translation: business interests. That plays well to an uniformed electorate but the fact is that’s hardly the case.

If anything, Tucson business leaders should be ashamed of their participation in local elections.

There are two issues: business leaders who sit on the sidelines come election time and business leaders who put their money behind the status quo.

The sideline sitters moan and groan about new taxes and fees imposed on their businesses by local governments but they’re nowhere to be found when there’s an opportunity to change the decision makers.

Case in point: Where is the lodging industry in this year’s city elections? Last summer, the Tucson City Council voted  to increase taxes and fees on overnight stays while at the same time taking away revenues going to the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote Tucson as a destination. It was a lose-lose situation. Fewer potential visitors will hear messages encouraging them to come to Tucson and if they do come, they’ll pay higher taxes for their stays making Tucson less desirable for a repeat visit, which, in turn, further drives down revenues.

Who loses? The lodging industry, especially employees — a sizeable number of people in Tucson.

The status quo supporters are more insidious. They are business leaders who quietly support candidates — often incumbents — to curry favor for a special project or to have a chit that could be used when needed.

This is the very definition of “special interest” but ironically it works exactly the opposite of what most politicians say. Doubt us? Pick a local politician crying foul about “special interests” then check which business leaders have put their financial support behind them. It can be stunning to see how many business leaders back the status quo.

It can be risky for a business leader to back a challenger in an election — especially considering the long arms of certain political alliances in this region (aka political machines).

There is also the issue such as this year where the election in three city wards isn’t likely to change the balance of power on the Tucson City Council. But there will be at least one new face with Steve Leal not seeking re-election and that, at least, opens the door to the possibilities of new alliances and dynamics on the council. Who knows what could happen with another new face, or two?

In the past, there have been solid candidates who have taken up the challenge to try to make a difference on local city and town councils and the county Board of Supervisors and run close races they could have won if there had been better support from the business community.

Unless and until business leaders step up to make it happen, we have nobody but ourselves to blame for the kind of elected officials we get.