Alvira.Gallego@tucsonaz.gov
520.791.4040

Vera was born in San Manuel, Arizona and grew up in the mining town of Mammoth. She spent two years at the University of Arizona and in 2007 received a liberal arts associate degree at Pima Community College. Previously she taught pre-school, kindergarten and was Assistant Director for St. John the Evangelist Catholic School. Vera has a beautiful eleven-year-old daughter, Marysol. She is active in the community as a volunteer coach for girl’s volleyball, basketball, and as a math tutor and board member at St. John’s. She has lived in Ward 1’s Westside for the past 9 years.

Mac.Hudson@tucsonaz.gov
520.837.4262

A third generation Tucsonan, Mac grew up in the Tucson Mountains and still lives on the Westside with his wife, Amy. He is an advisory board member of the Sonoran Institute’s Community Design Academy and a founding member of the Downtown Tucson Partnership.

He served as president of the 2,600 household Menlo Park Neighborhood Association when he wrote this guest editorial for the Star: Time for a New Urban Environment . He got his BS in Agriculture/Business and his MA in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona. Mac ran his own small business and volunteered extensively in the community before joining Ward 1 and public service.

Diana.Rhoades@tucsonaz.gov
520.837.4263

Diana Rhoades has 16 years experience in government relations, conservation advocacy and campaign management. She most recently worked for the non-profit Sonoran Institute on land and water policy issues. She has a journalism and public communications degree from the University of Alaska. She is married to Michael Finkelstein and enjoys living downtown in one of Ward 1’s most walkable, bikeable urban living spaces – the El Presidio neighborhood.

Carlos.Romero@tucsonaz.gov
520.791.4040

Carlos grew up and lives on Tucson’s Westside - in Ward 1. He is the grandson of Ruben Romero, who served as the Ward 1 City Council Member from 1971 to 1979. He is a lifelong Tucsonan, graduating from University High School in 2002 and the U of A in December 2006 with a B.S. in Business Administration, majoring in Business Management. He earned an internship in summer 2005 with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, interning in the congressional office of Congressman Raul Grijalva. Since February 2007 he has been substitute teaching with Sunnyside Unified School District and tutoring with Principal Tutoring.

Darlane.Santacruz@tucsonaz.gov
520.837.4265

Darlane was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and graduated from Desert View High School in 2002. She spent two years in college in Alabama playing tennis before graduating from the U of A in 2007. Darlane graduated with a Mexican-American Studies degree with a focus on social justice and public policy. She was working at the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault, as a Sexual Violence Prevention Educator, before joining Romero’s team. She is married with a young son and lives in Sunset Villa, a south side Ward 1 neighborhood.