🔥 Political Favoritism Exposed: How Andres Cano's District 5 Appointment Breaks Democratic Tradition

How one politician's red carpet treatment exposes the double standards in Pima County politics

Apr 15, 2025

😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾

The Pima County Board of Supervisors usually follows a fair rule when someone leaves their job early: they pick a temporary replacement who promises not to run in the next election. 🏛️🤝 This gives everyone a fair chance to compete later. But now with Andres Cano, they're breaking this rule and rushing to give him the job in less than a month.

⏳⚖️ This isn't fair because it gives him a big advantage in the next election. 🗳️🚫 It's like if a substitute teacher was suddenly made the permanent teacher without giving other qualified teachers a chance to apply. 👩‍🏫👨‍🏫 People who care about fairness should speak up about this. 📣🤔

🗝️ Takeaways

📌 The Pima County Board of Supervisors has broken with their established tradition of appointing only non-election-seeking placeholders to fill vacancies
🗓️ Unlike previous appointees, Andres Cano is being fast-tracked through a process that takes less than a month, skipping the usual careful deliberation
- 💼 Cano previously benefited from having a city job created specifically for him, showing a pattern of special treatment
- 🔄 This appointment gives Cano the powerful advantage of incumbency without having to earn it through election
🗣️ Democratic principles require consistent application of rules regardless of political affiliation or connections
🚨 The rushed timeline suggests this is a strategic political maneuver rather than responsible governance
✊ Citizens can respond by attending Board meetings, organizing accountability groups, and supporting independent media

Give a gift subscription

Andrés Cano (@AndresCanoAZ) / X — Keeping District 5 in the family?

Breaking Tradition: The Special Treatment in Andres Cano's District 5 Appointment

April 15, 2025, a Day that will be taxing
Por Three Sonorans

Certain patterns emerge in Pima County's ever-evolving political landscape that demand our attention. Today, we examine a troubling deviation from established protocols—one that reeks of political favoritism and threatens the democratic principles that should guide our local governance.

The rushed appointment of Andres Cano to fill the District 5 vacancy left by Adelita Grijalva represents more than just a personnel change; it symbolizes how the political machine continues to operate with different rules for different people.

The Pattern of Placeholder Appointments

For years, the Pima County Board of Supervisors has followed a consistent practice when filling vacancies: appoint interim representatives who explicitly commit NOT to seek election to the position.

This wasn't merely a courtesy—it was a democratic safeguard ensuring that appointed officials wouldn't leverage their temporary status into the unfair advantage of incumbency.

Let's revisit recent history:

When Richard Elias passed away, the Board appointed Betty Villegas to complete his term in District 5, with the clear understanding that she would not run for election.
When Sharon Bronson resigned from District 3, Dr. Sylvia Lee was appointed as a temporary caretaker of the seat, again with the stipulation that she would step aside for the next election cycle.
This approach wasn't limited to the County Board. When vacancies occurred in Tucson's Ward 3 and Ward 6, Karen Uhlich was appointed without the expectation that she would use these temporary positions as stepping stones to elected office.

Most recently, when a vacancy opened in Tucson's Ward 5, all indicators pointed to the appointment of someone who would simply complete the term without seeking re-election.

Claro que sí, there's a pattern here. A tradition of respecting the voters' right to choose their representatives without the Board putting its thumb on the electoral scale.

The Cano Exception: Rules for Thee, Not for Me

Enter Andres Cano. After Adelita Grijalva vacated her District 5 seat (the same one previously held by her father and temporarily by Betty Villegas), the Board has orchestrated a fundamentally different approach.

Unlike previous appointees, Cano appears poised to receive not just a temporary appointment but a political coronation—one that positions him as the presumptive favorite in the next election.

The contrast is stark and troubling:

No commitment not to seek re-election, breaking with established precedent
A rushed appointment process will be completed in less than a month
A seemingly pre-ordained selection rather than a deliberative process

However, the preferential treatment began even before this appointment. Let's not forget that Cano was the beneficiary of another questionable maneuver when the City created a position tailored explicitly for him—a government job that served as a convenient launchpad for his political ambitions.

¿Y esto es democracia? Parece más bien un sistema de compadres.

The Democratic Deficit

Why should this matter to you, the residents of Pima County? Because representative democracy depends on fair processes, not predetermined outcomes. When those in power manipulate the system to favor certain individuals, they're essentially telling voters that their preferences matter less than the preferences of political insiders.

The implications are profound:

For Voters

When appointments become stepping stones rather than temporary placeholders, voters face candidates with artificial advantages—name recognition, established donor networks, and the powerful label of "incumbent" without having earned it through an election.

For Good Governance

The perception (and reality) of favoritism undermines public trust in government institutions. If rules can be bent for the well-connected, what other principles are negotiable?

For Political Diversity

Rigging the system in favor of pre-selected candidates discourages new voices from entering the political arena. Why run against someone who's been handed the advantages of office without earning them at the ballot box?

The Broader Pattern: Politics in the Trump Era

As an Indigenous Chicano watching these dynamics unfold, I can't help but see parallels to broader national trends. The Trump era has normalized the treatment of democratic norms as optional guidelines rather than essential guardrails. While the content differs dramatically, the form remains disturbingly similar: rules exist, until they don't serve those in power.

Aquí en la frontera, we've always understood that democracy requires vigilance. The borderlands teach harsh lessons about power—who has it, who doesn't, and how easily it can be abused.

When local officials—even those who might align with more progressive values—adopt the same playbook of exceptionalism and insider preference, they betray the very principles they claim to champion.

True resistance to authoritarianism doesn't just mean opposing particular policies; it means defending the integrity of democratic processes regardless of who benefits.

The Rushed Timeline: A Strategy, Not an Accident

The expedited timeline for Cano's appointment—less than a month from vacancy to selection—further suggests this isn't simply about filling a needed role. Responsible governance would demand thorough vetting, community input, and transparent deliberation. Instead, the process has the appearance of a fait accompli, designed to install a preferred candidate before meaningful opposition can organize.

Compare this to the careful, measured approach taken with previous appointments. The contrast couldn't be clearer: some vacancies merit deliberation and clear boundaries; others—specifically this one—warrant haste and exceptional treatment.

Beyond Partisanship: A Question of Democratic Principles

To be absolutely clear: this critique isn't about partisan politics or personal animosity. Many who recognize this troubling pattern might broadly share political values with both the Board and with Cano himself. The issue isn't which "team" benefits, but whether the rules of the game remain consistent and fair.

No es cuestión de quién, sino de cómo. Not who, but how.

Democratic principles transcend party affiliation. When we excuse procedural manipulations because they benefit "our side," we open the door to the same tactics being used against us. The integrity of the process matters as much as—perhaps more than—any particular outcome.

A Path Forward: Reclaiming Democratic Accountability

Despite this troubling pattern, hope remains. The people of Pima County have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to fair governance and democratic principles. The current situation offers not just a challenge but an opportunity—a chance to demand better from our elected officials and to reaffirm the primacy of voter choice in our political system.

What can concerned citizens do?

Speak Out: Attend Board of Supervisors meetings, call your representatives, and make your voice heard. Demand explanations for this deviation from established practice.
Organize: Join with neighbors to form accountability groups that monitor local government actions and advocate for transparent processes.
Remember: When election time comes, consider not just candidates' positions but their commitment to democratic principles and fair play.
Engage Media: Support independent journalism that investigates and reports on these issues without fear or favor.
Stay Informed: Follow Three Sonorans and other independent media sources that cover stories the mainstream might ignore or underplay.

The struggle for genuine democracy doesn't end with any single election or appointment. It requires constant vigilance and active participation. Pima County's people deserve representatives chosen through fair processes, not anointed through insider arrangements.

Supporting Independent Voices

In times like these, independent media becomes even more crucial. Three Sonorans remains committed to shining light on the political dynamics that shape our community—particularly those that might otherwise escape scrutiny.

If you value this kind of independent analysis, consider supporting Three Sonorans through:

Monthly contributions through Substack or directly through Buy Me a Coffee
Sharing our content with friends and family
Engaging with our reporting through comments and social media
Sending tips and information about issues that deserve attention

Your support enables us to continue serving as watchdogs for democratic principles and community interests.

Join the Conversation

What do you think about this appointment? Do you see it as a legitimate exception to established practice, or a troubling example of insider preference?

Also, what other local governance issues deserve greater scrutiny from independent media?

Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Your perspective matters in this ongoing conversation about the future of democracy in our community.