In an era when politicians too often turn out to be less than what we thought, Tucson City Council candidate Steve Kozachik seems to be the real deal. A graduate of the University of Arizona with a master’s degree, he’s worked in restaurant management, spent 10 years working for copper miner Asarco and for the last 21 years has been the UA’s associate director of athletics for facilities and project management.

As if those didn’t keep him occupied, Kozachik has worked in Zambia to fund and start the construction of a school for HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children and helped women there learn a marketable skill and get a micro-loan to start their own business. On his own he also went to Sri Lanka after the December 2004 tsunami and helped three families rebuild their homes.

To the listener who might express astonishment at these accomplishments, Kozachik shrugs and says, “It’s what I do.”

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Kozachik is big on public accountability and restoring trust in city government. In his years at the UA he has performed to these standards overseeing construction and development projects. He knows how it should work.

Four years ago, Nina Trasoff actively courted the business vote and Inside Tucson Business supported her successful effort to win the Ward 6 council seat. But her record is sketchy, at best. That’s too bad because when Trasoff supports something — as she often does for the arts community — she can be passionate about it.

This year Inside Tucson Business endorses Steve Kozachik for the Ward 6 seat.

The race in Ward 3 also causes us to look back to four years ago when Karin Uhlich unseated Kathleen Dunbar. We liked Dunbar then and, given the choice, would endorse Dunbar again. But that’s not the case.

Uhlich has shown herself to be supportive of small business through Local First Arizona, which has brought her close to respected business operators who’ve become integral advisers. We also like Uhlich’s efforts against payday lenders who suck customers away from other businesses. Uhlich is doing what she needs to do to build support for an expected run for mayor in two years. 

There are those who say Ben Buehler-Garcia is the single most-qualified challenger for the three city council seats up for election this year. He lists more than 20 years experience in the areas of economic and community development, small business advocacy and organizational management.

It makes for a difficult choice but, for the sake of this year’s drive to try make City Hall more business friendly,  Inside Tucson Business endorses Ben Buehler-Garcia for the Ward 3 council seat.

Finally, in Ward 5, Richard Fimbres has about as deep community roots as anyone in this election. He has lived in the ward his entire life. He’s a 20-year veteran of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. He’s been a driving force behind the local chapter of for LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens). He served as director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and he is currently serving on the Pima Community College Board of Governors.

Challenger Shaun McClusky is a political newcomer who is wading in too deep.

We won’t always agree with him, but Inside Tucson Business endorses Richard Fimbres for Ward 5.