Regina Romero

Regina Romero
Name	Regina Romero
Office	Mayor of Tucson
Term start	December 2, 2019
Predecessor	Jonathan Rothschild
Birth date	1974
Birth place	Tucson, Arizona, United States
Party	Democratic Party
Spouse	Robert Neri
Alma mater	University of Arizona (B.A.)

Regina Romero

Regina Romero is an American politician and civic leader serving as the mayor of Tucson, Arizona since December 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served on the Tucson City Council and led community organizations focused on housing, labor, and immigrant rights. Romero is the first Latina mayor of Tucson, and her mayoralty has intersected with regional issues including public transit, border policy, and urban development.

Early life and education

Romero was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, into a family with roots in Sonora and longstanding ties to the Pima County region. She attended local public schools before enrolling at the University of Arizona, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts with a focus that includedChicano Studies, American Studies, and community engagement programs. During her university years she participated in student organizations connected to Migrant Farmers advocacy, League of United Latin American Citizens, and campus chapters of labor unions such as the United Food and Commercial Workers.

Early career and community activism

Following graduation, Romero worked with nonprofit organizations and coalitions addressing housing, health, and workers' rights in Southern Arizona. She served as executive director of the Southwest Fair Housing Council and later as deputy director at the Tucson Community Development Corporation where she managed initiatives funded by agencies including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and collaborated with Pima County officials. Romero was active in campaigns alongside labor groups like the Service Employees International Union and immigrant-rights organizations such as Borderlands Produce Workers Coalition. Her activism also connected her with civic institutions including the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Tucson-Pima Arts Council.

Tucson City Council tenure

Romero was elected to the Tucson City Council in 2011, representing Ward 1. On the council she chaired and served on committees that interfaced with municipal departments and regional entities such as the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Pima Association of Governments, and the Tucson Unified School District board liaisons. Her council work emphasized affordable housing collaborations with the Arizona Department of Housing, public transit investments involving Sun Link planning, and environmental resilience tied to partnerships with The Nature Conservancy and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Romero joined fellow councilmembers in negotiating city budgets, responding to state legislation from the Arizona State Legislature, and coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency during regional emergencies.

Mayor of Tucson

In 2019 Romero ran for mayor of Tucson, Arizona and won a citywide election, succeeding Jonathan Rothschild. As mayor she heads executive functions of the city and represents Tucson in intergovernmental relations with the State of Arizona, federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Transportation, and metropolitan coalitions including the Sun Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization. Her administration has overseen initiatives related to public safety coordination with the Pima County Sheriff's Department, downtown revitalization involving the Downtown Tucson Partnership, and infrastructure projects financed through local bonds and RTA allocations. Romero's tenure has coincided with crises and policy debates that involved coordination with the Arizona National Guard and responses to regional migration and humanitarian issues near the U.S.–Mexico border.

Political positions and initiatives

Romero has advocated for policies promoting affordable housing, expanded public transit, and climate resilience. She supports investments in transit projects tied to the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) funding mechanisms and partnerships with Amtrak and regional bus operators. On housing she has worked with nonprofit developers such as Habitat for Humanity International and state housing agencies to increase low-income units and leverage federal programs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Romero has taken progressive positions on immigration, aligning with groups like RAICES and coordinating humanitarian responses with organizations including Salvation Army and Church World Service. On policing and public safety she has supported collaborative reforms advocated by civil-rights organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and local grassroots groups. Her climate agenda references regional stakeholders including Arizona Public Service and conservation groups like Sierra Club and focuses on resilience in the Sonoran Desert context.

Personal life and recognitions

Romero is married to Robert Neri; the couple has one child and resides in Tucson, Arizona. She has been recognized by civic institutions and advocacy groups, receiving awards from entities such as the League of United Latin American Citizens, the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, and local chapters of the Hispanic National Bar Association for her public service and leadership. Romero has been featured in regional media outlets including the Arizona Daily Star and national outlets covering Latino political leadership such as Hispanic Executive and has participated in conferences hosted by organizations like the Brookings Institution and the Local Government Commission.

Category:Mayors of Tucson, Arizona Category:Arizona Democrats Category:University of Arizona alumni