When they take office Dec. 7, Tucson’s two newest city council members, Steve Kozachik and Richard Fimbres will change the dynamics of the seven-member governing body. But it’s important for the business community to manage expectations.

Kozachik was quite vocal during the campaign in seeking support from business leaders who feel disenfranchised from a city government that seeks to cully favors. Fimbres wasn’t as aggressive in seeking business support but he could point to being named the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s man of the year in 2001, even if the chamber this year endorsed his opponent.

We don’t expect the two to agree on much when it comes to substantive decisions. We also don’t expect that results will change all that much. Indeed, since Fimbres is a Democrat joining four others of the same party, the majority remains unchanged. He has a long history of public and community service. Hopefully he doesn’t owe too many favors.

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On the other hand, Kozachik can offer something the council has been lacking the last four years — just by asking questions and raising issues.

Even after his election — and an Arizona Daily Star editorial counseling him to compromise with his new colleagues to get things done — Kozachik indicated he had intended to stick to his principles. In a letter to the editor of Inside Tucson Business he called on the others to join him in seeking an audit of downtown Rio Nuevo’s finances, reviewing alternatives to the city building and owning a 525-room downtown convention hotel, and repealing the $1 per night bed tax that was added this fiscal year.

Whether he accomplishes any of those, at least Kozachik has raised the issues and sheds light on a city government that has acted with arrogance and disdain for anyone who dares question its decisions or motives.

But what may be most promising about Kozachik joining the council is his adherence to processes for making decisions. Undoubtedly he’s learned those through his years of experience working on development projects for the University of Arizona’s Athletics Department. The big business of college athletics these days mixed with the myriad of rules and regulations from numerous governing bodies — governmental, foundations and the NCAA — means there are some very stiff penalties to be paid any time a line is crossed.

Listen to him talk about problem solving, and Kozachik makes it clear he never wants to get close to that line, much less cross it. He sees things as black or white, right or wrong and avoids the gray or the maybe. 

While it can be frustrating for the business community to see how special interests win favors from city government, it’s even more important not to try to use their same tactics. Kozachik doesn’t seem to be inclined to go that route.

In the end, the city government will be better served when there is less favoritism and under-the-table dealings. It will lead to less doubt and more confidence in doing business with the city.    

We welcome the possibility of a ray of sunshine that is about to come to this city council. Who knows? Maybe just from his being there, Kozachik just might usher in a new era of openness and decision-making in Tucson.

We can hope can’t we?