| Rodney Glassman | |
|---|---|
| City Councilperson for Tucson, Arizona | |
| In office 2007–2010 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rodney Britz Glassman May 7, 1978 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Sasha Glassman |
| Alma mater | University of Arizona |
| Website | Rodney Glassman for United States Senate |
Rodney Britz Glassman[1] (born May 7, 1978) is an American businessman, author, and politician who served on the City Council of the City of Tucson, Arizona, from 2007 to 2010.[2] At the time of his resignation he was serving as the Vice Mayor, which is a rotating title that moves from Councilperson to Councilperson. He also serves in the Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) of the United States Air Force.[3]
In April 2010, Glassman entered the race for United States Senate as a member of the Democratic Party. The seat is currently held by Republican Senator John McCain. Due to Arizona's "resign-to-run" law, Glassman was required to resign from his position on the Tucson City Council prior to announcing his run for Senate.[4]
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Glassman was born and raised in Fresno, California.[5] For high school, he went to Lake Forest Academy, an elite prep school in Illinois, and graduated in 1996. He moved to Arizona in 1997 to manage his family's faltering Ice Rink business.[6] In the meantime, he pursued undergraduate and advanced degrees at the University of Arizona. Glassman received both a J.D. and Ph.D. (in Arid Land Resource Sciences) from the University of Arizona.[7] In 2007, he ran for City Council of Tucson and won with more than 60% of the vote.[8]
He serves as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserves at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.[9] Glassman represents the U.S. government in military legal matters, and he serves as legal representation for active duty members, retired members, and veterans from all branches of the military in civil law and military justice.
Glassman established the Glassman Foundation, which has raised over $1 million for charities that serve underprivileged children. The Glassman Foundation has teamed with several Southern Arizona groups that serve children to launch events such as the annual An Evening of Love Songs, the Glassman Foundation Youth Expo, the Glassman Foundation Gentleman’s Roast, the South of 45 Breakfast Club, KB Home Tucson Putt Putt Open, the Ante Up for Kids Poker Tournament, and various other events.[10]
For three years, Glassman served on the Arizona Farm Bureau and helped reconstitute the Pima County Farm Bureau. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Pima Council on Aging,[11] Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education,[12] and the Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation.[13]
During his time on the Tucson City Council, Glassman gained national attention by championing environmentally-friendly legislation. Glassman worked to tackle Tucson’s water shortage by championing the nation’s first-ever rainwater ordinance, which now requires new commercial development to harvest and re-use rainwater.[14] He also brought the council together to unanimously require that new Tucson homes include graywater plumbing systems to reuse water for landscaping.[15]
Glassman's other accomplishments include his work in reducing the bureaucracy necessary for Solar Generating Plants to be established in Tucson,[16] supporting efforts to get electricity turned back on in foreclosed homes to help speed up the sale of Tucson’s glutted housing stock,[17] and working with community leaders to create and raise over $100,000 for Family Friendly Weekends, which has promoted hundreds of downtown activities for children and their families.
Glassman challenged, and lost to, Republican incumbent John McCain. He won the Democratic nomination with 35% of the vote.[18]
Glassman lives with his wife Sasha in Tucson. The two published a children's book in 2010, titled Jeremy Jackrabbit Harvests the Rain.[19]