Bob Walkup


Robert E. Walkup served as the 40th Mayor of Tucson, Arizona from 1999 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Biography

Career

Walkup holds a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Iowa State University and served in the U.S. Army. Before becoming involved in politics, he was an engineer and executive in the aerospace industry for 35 years. He worked for Rockwell International, Fairchild Republic, and Hughes Aircraft Company.
Walkup also served as the former chairman of the Tucson Economic Council.

Mayor of Tucson

Walkup was first elected on November 2, 1999, defeating Democratic former City Councilwoman Molly McKasson and local businessman Bob Beaudry. Benefitting from a split in the Democratic vote, he was sworn into office on December 6, 1999, succeeding two-term Tucson Mayor George Miller, who retired from office as the city's longest serving official. Walkup became the first Republican mayor of Tucson since 1983.
Proposition 400 was approved simultaneously with Mayor Walkup's election. Prop 400 created the Rio Nuevo Multi-Purpose Facility District. The City Manager, James Keene, was appointed as Executive Director of the Rio Nuevo Multi-Purpose Facility District Board.
Walkup was re-elected for a second term November 4, 2003, narrowly defeating Democratic former Mayor Tom Volgy. He was re-elected for a third term on November 6, 2007, defeating a Green Party candidate with 72% of the vote. after the Democrats failed to field a candidate.
Walkup announced on February 22, 2011 that he would not seek re-election after his current term ends in December. Democrat Jonathan Rothschild won the election and was sworn into office on December 5, 2011.