Gov. Katie Hobbs has replaced four members of the Rio Nuevo board in Tucson, raising questions among some business leaders as to her motivation.
Rio Nuevo is a municipal tax collection district and special taxing district dedicated to revitalization and development in the downtown area.
Hobbs’ statement on the appointments did not address her rationale but expressed confidence the new appointees would bring in new ideas and create new opportunities.
Hobbs retained Fletcher McCusker, who is an independent and current board chairman.
She replaced Janie Cox, Jeffrey Hill, Edmund Marquez and Ross McAllister with Sharaya Jimenez, Richard Osern, Corky Poster and Taunya Villicana.
Members Chris Sheafe and Mike Levine will remain in their positions and two seats will be filled by the legislature. The end result will probably be a board made up of four Democrats, four Republicans and McCusker.
Some local business leaders have questioned the apparently partisan move, since the board has been successful in bringing more than $1B in investment to the District. Tucson Metro Chamber President and CEO Michael Guymon said, “I understand that we live in a very political world, and when administrations change, appointed bodies change. The big issue that I have with this, is why change something that has proven to be a great success?”
He added that his concern was not in opposition to the new appointees themselves, many of whom he has worked with and says he admires as people who care about downtown Tucson. (Source)