The power base of nearly every politician in Tucson and Pima County will change. The politicians whom residents of Tucson and Pima County rely on to represent their interests also could change. Every 10 years, when new census numbers are released, local, county and state governments reshape political districts to account for changes in population. That is the engine driving what observers say could be profound changes to the political map of Arizona. I can't think of anything that's more important to a representative system like ours.
Money is one reason the census is so important.
There is a lot of it at stake. That money is used to pay for a variety of programs, from foster care to highway construction. Within Arizona, census numbers will determine how the state Legislature parcels out federal state-shared revenues to cities and towns. In Tucson, the numbers could have an especially significant impact if voters pass an amendment to the city charter that would increase the number of council wards from six to eight. That amendment is expected to be put before voters in November.