With election season heating up in Pima County, District 1 Supervisor Rex Scott is one of a handful of incumbents, defending his seat against a challenger.

But unlike some of the other races, Scott, a Democrat, is well acquainted with his competitor, who also ran against him for the seat in 2020.

Scott is being challenged by Republican Steve Spain, who Tucson Spotlight profiled last week and has challenged Scott on his spending decisions throughout the campaign.

Scott’s political journey began at age 24, when he was elected as a city council member in his hometown of Athens, Ohio. His path took a turn when he relocated to Tucson and spent nearly three decades as a teacher and administrator in public schools.

After retiring from education, Scott set his sights back on politics and onto a new mission: serving on the Pima County Board of Supervisors. He beat Spain in 2020 in a showdown for retired Supervisor Ally Miller’s seat, and is eager to take on a second term.

“Seeking another term is a way of continuing what really has been a lifelong commitment to public service,” he said. 

In his quest for reelection, Scott is focused on expanding the initiatives he championed during his first term: economic development, job expansion and critical improvements to roads and infrastructure. 

“The year before I ran for the board, 70 percent of the roads in the county were found to be in poor or failed condition and we have made a high priority of putting the resources needed into our road repair and maintenance program,” he said. 

Scott’s vision extends beyond asphalt and concrete. He also recognizes the pressing need for better job opportunities in Pima County.

“I have lived here for most of my adult life and this county has always been a low-wage, high-poverty county,” he said. “I think the biggest issue that we have is bringing in more high-paying jobs that can not only improve the quality of life for people, but also give our kids reasons to want to stay here when they finish school.”

Addressing the housing crisis is another cornerstone of Scott’s platform. With the National Low Income Housing Coalition estimating a shortfall of approximately 26,000 affordable housing units in Pima County, he stresses the necessity of thoughtful development. 

“People in my district are not only concerned with having more businesses, jobs and housing, but they also want those decisions made in sound ways that respect our desert and environment,” he said. “The Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan is really important to everybody in Pima County, including people in District 1.”

Since its adoption in 1998, the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan has served as a vital framework for protecting the cultural and historic resources that define Pima County.

Scott said he played a pivotal role in another critical plan by updating the Board of Supervisors’ economic development strategic plan, which aims to attract major employers and businesses to the region. 

"(The plan) not only targets certain industries that are likely aligned with what we have to offer in terms of infrastructure, but it's also been fully vetted by the federal economic development administration,” he said. “So that’s going to make us more eligible for grant funding from the federal government to augment our economic development efforts.” 

In late 2023, Scott championed The Prosperity Initiative, a policy framework that addresses the pervasive issue of intergenerational poverty. This initiative is the result of over a year of research and review by a task force composed of representatives from several jurisdictions across the county. 

 One of the key inspirations for the Initiative was the Pima Early Education Program Scholarships, which have lowered barriers to accessing quality early childhood education. 

“It has not only benefited kids, but it’s also benefited families, because if they can send their child to preschool, they know they can then be free to go to their job or classes if they’re still a student,” he said.

As Scott works to build on his record, he faces harsh criticism from Spain, who has labeled him “Deficit Rex” in reference to his administration’s budgetary practices.

Spain argues that Scott’s spending has outpaced revenues and warns that reliance on credit and federal funds may burden future residents.

We wrote last week about signs that have surfaced in District 1, directing voters to the website “DeficitRex.com,” which accuses Scott of overspending and mismanaging the county’s finances. 

Scott has pushed back against the claims, asserting that Pima County operates within the law and maintains a balanced budget, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated federal funding. 

“What I’m going to be focused on in a second term is the same thing that I’ve been focused on in my first term, which is being the voice and the advocate for the people of District 1 through constituent service and outreach,” he said.

Isabela Gamez is a University of Arizona alum and reporter with Tucson Spotlight. Contact her at gamezi@arizona.edu.