Remarks: Vice Mayor Rodney Glassman Resigns from Tucson City Council

As you know, I have been exploring a run for U.S. Senate. I committed to staying on the Council through today to help get the budget on track and forward recommendations to the City Manager. Today the Mayor and Council completed our budget recommendations. I have confidence in my colleagues to finish the work that we began and forwarded today.

I look forward to building new relationships with each of you as we work together to move Arizona forward. Tonight, though, I just want to express my deepest gratitude to those who have made this city that I love a wonderful home for all of us here tonight.

• I would like to say a special thanks to the constituents of Ward 2 who allowed me to serve them.
• I also want to say a deep thanks to City Manager Mike Letcher, City Attorney Mike Rankin, and former City Manager Mike Hein, who, along with so many city staff, work tirelessly to make Tucson a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
• So many in our community step up to be leaders and volunteer on boards and commissions because they believe in our city and want it to be a better place to call home. I want to say thank you to each and every one of you.

Together, we have accomplished much for the city of Tucson.

• I am particularly proud that we were able to enact the nation’s first mandatory commercial rainwater harvesting ordinance, which requires all new commercial buildings to get 50 percent of their landscape water needs from rain water.
• We also passed a gray water and solar hot water ordinances, which require all new houses to be plumbed for gray water and solar hot water.
• We found ways to safely open up local school yards and playgrounds to be used as neighborhood parks after school hours and on weekends.
• We worked together to cut red tape to make it easier for Solar Generating Plants to set up shop in Tucson, bringing in jobs.
• With the support of the Tucson Association of Realtors and Tucson Electric Power and city staff, we found a way to get electricity turned on in foreclosed homes to help speed up the sale of our glutted housing stock.

I love this job. I love this city. Tucson will always be my home. Although I am leaving the City Council today with a heavy heart, I know that I am leaving the Council in good, capable hands.

Thank you all. I hereby announce my resignation tonight, effective immediately.

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Release: Rodney Glassman: More than $500,000 In Just 3 Weeks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2010

Rodney Glassman: More than $500k in Just 3 Weeks

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Rodney Glassman announced today that he brought in more than $500,000 in the first three weeks of his U.S. Senate campaign against John McCain. Last Wednesday marks the third week since he filed to run for U.S. Senate.

Glassman seeded the campaign with $250,000 to show his commitment to Arizona. His goal was to match the amount he put in, and he exceeded that goal.

“We are very encouraged by the outpouring of support we have received from Arizonans who are ready for new leadership in the U.S. Senate,” said Glassman. “Arizona’s problems need urgent solutions, not decades of empty rhetoric and no progress.”

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