Akanni Oyegbola, South Tucson’s Acting Mayor

Akanni Oyegbola is the Acting Mayor of the City of South Tucson. Raised in Washington D.C., he has been a student, spokesperson, local politician aide, and small business owner. His legislative, planning, business, and political experiences bring an important balance to the City of South Tucson.

South Tucson has been a city within Tucson since 1940. It is 1.2 square miles with a population of 6,500. South Tucson is known for being influenced by Hispanic culture in restaurants and shops which sell traditional other goods throughout the city.

Akanni is a member of the City of South Tucson’s Social Services Block Grant Committee and a local board member for the economic development and workforce committee. He has provided pro bono service for the benefit of the community including the Tucson Pima Collaborative to End Homelessness, Progressive Democrats of Southern Arizona, and the Salvation Army.

Akanni came to South Tucson as an intern, working as the community liaison for the police cheif, the judge and city manager. Residents encouraged him to run and he is the first Black person on the South Tucson Council. “This shows the progessive nature of South Tucson,” said Akanni, who came from Lagos, Nigeria origianlly.

“What is important to residents of South Tucson are self-governance and self determination,” he said.

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