Moving Pima County Forward
28 years ago I moved to Tucson to attend UA and I never left because I love Tucson. This passion for our community is what now drives me to expand my 20 years of public service in the nonprofit sector and run for elected office.
I'm running because I love my community and the prospect of engaging with them and working collaboratively to get things done appeals to me. We can do a lot more to move Pima County forward with more collaboration among the Board of Supervisors. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and putting in the hard work on behalf of District Four.
Meet Vanessa
Vanessa Bechtol’s nearly 20 years professional experience in public service includes working with nonprofit organizations focused on economic development, quality of life, and cultural and historic preservation. She has a track record for building creative collaborations, due in part to her eagerness to bring different perspectives to the table.
Vanessa’s professional experience includes working on destination stewardship at Visit Tucson, with an emphasis on sustainable economic development, placemaking initiatives, strong community engagement, and strategic planning. She served eight years as the Executive Director of the non-profit Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance, where she worked with elected officials, community leaders, and nonprofit partners in the shared pursuit of preserving and promoting southern Arizona’s rich heritage. In that role she also co-authored the first nomination for the City of Tucson to be designated as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, the first in the U.S.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Latin American Studies (2000), Master of Science in Planning (2003), and a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership & Management (2021), all from the University of Arizona. Vanessa is a proud graduate of the Greater Tucson Leadership program and the Civic & Political Leadership Academy.
Vanessa enjoys hiking with her husband and two kids (she’s doing a 52 hike challenge in 2024), cycling on The Loop, exploring Tucson’s culinary scene, and volunteering throughout the community. Her current and past community service includes serving as an Honorary Commander at Davis Monthan Air Force Base and serving on several nonprofit boards and committees including the Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance, Arizona Deserts National Parks Partnership, Southwest Folklife Alliance, Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance, the Pima County Loop Advisory Committee, Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona’s Community Impact Committee, and several Destinations International’s committees.