Thank You!

To the voters of Tucson, I wish to express my heartfelt thanks for this opportunity to serve and work to make Tucson a better place with a richer future for all.

It is the day after the campaign and now it is time for rest, reflection, taking down the campaign signs.

To my family, Mary, my sons, Richard Michael, Joseph, our dog Chyna, I want to express my appreciation to you for your love, support, hard work and for being there during the good times and bad these past seven months. This was a team effort.

To my loving mother and father, Gilbert and Irene, for instilling in me the importance of education, participating in the democratic process, service to one's community and country, my endearing love and gratitude. To my brothers and sisters and their families: Gilbert and Lily, Steve and JoAnn, Carol and Terry, Mary Helen and Vicki, thanks for your love and support.

To the community activists who approached me to run for the seat, my thanks to you. We have worked on many things and completed many projects these past 25 years but our work is now just beginning.

To retired Pima County Supervisor Dan Eckstrom, Supervisor Ramon Valadez, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, retiring Ward 5 Councilmember Steve Leal and Sunnyside School Board Member Eva Carrillo Dong, my appreciation for your public service and for serving as the Campaign Co-Chairs and Treasurer. I could not have done this without your support and help.

For everyone who carried the petitions to get my name on the ballot, walked the neighborhoods across this wonderful city, opened their homes, businesses and hearts to this effort, I will be forever grateful to you for your time and work on this.

I want to thank Mark Kerr, my campaign manager, who has been very inciteful as an advisor, astute as a political strategist, running the campaign effectively and efficiently. Mark has been a part of my team since the very beginning, working as a volunteer, not for the glory, but for a better Tucson.

As your Councilmember, I will listen, educate and be educated, advocate and hopefully deliver for Tucson.