Governing Board Member, Tucson Unified School District
What does this office do?
- Deciding how school district money is spent
- Picking the superintendent
- Choosing curriculum, within state rules
Affects: Government Efficiency, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control,
Candidates:
Nonpartisan · Incumbent
Jennifer Eckstrom serves on the Tucson Unified School District governing board and works as a community and faith-based coordinator for Pima County's workforce department. She was elected to the South Tucson City Council at 18 and later served as the city's mayor.
Records: Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties 1 for, Data Privacy 1 for, Public Education Quality 1 for
Nonpartisan
Pilar Acosta Ruiz is a 2026 candidate for the Tucson Unified School District governing board, having previously run for the seat in 2024. A member of Teamsters Local 104, she describes herself as an active participant in TUSD board meetings since 2011.
Records: Government Efficiency 1 for, Public Education Quality 1 for
Nonpartisan
Skye Fernandez is a 2026 candidate for the Tucson Unified School District governing board, one of five candidates who filed nomination petitions for the two seats up in the November 2026 election.
Nonpartisan
Tre'Davon Rhodes is a 2026 candidate for the Tucson Unified School District governing board and, at age 20, the youngest in the field. He is a University of Arizona junior studying political science and economics who has balanced work and school since high school.
Nonpartisan · Incumbent
Val Romero is an incumbent member of the Tucson Unified School District governing board, serving since 2023. He has previously run for a Tucson Ward 6 City Council seat and for the Pima County Board of Supervisors in District 5.
Records: Civil Rights 1 for, 1 against, Government Efficiency 1 for, Government Spending Reduction 1 for
Sources: schools.pima.gov23