Tensions are brewing in Oro Valley after four of the five members of the town’s Tourism Advisory Commission resigned in the last week.
Four members of Oro Valley Tourism Advisory Commission resign.
Tensions are brewing in Oro Valley after four of the five members of the town's Tourism Advisory Commission resigned in the last week.
The town created the commission in June 2025 with the goal of helping guide Oro Valley's tourism and hospitality efforts.
The commission launched in August of last year.
Christopher DeSimone has lived in Oro Valley 31 years.
He was eager to join the commission.
"I was happy to step up for the town I love," DeSimone said Wednesday.
The commission held monthly meetings.
But now, only one of its five members remains.
DeSimone argues town management did not reach out to the group for help and that members felt their input was not valued.
"I feel like, town management felt, they just didn't reach out to us to dive into that well of experience," he said.
"We started feeling like we were an inconvenience that they had to have those meetings, that what it felt like to me.
I mean we have all this knowledge and experience and expertise." In a statement to News 4 Tucson, a spokesperson for the Town of Oro Valley said: "The Town acknowledges the resignations of four members of the Tourism Advisory Commission and appreciates their service to the community.
The perspectives shared in their resignation letters are their own.
As outlined in the Town's Boards and Commissions materials, the Tourism Advisory Commission provides input on tourism-related matters, including strategic marketing, special events, hotel and resort partnerships, and budget priorities.
The commission also reviews the Town's tourism plans and strategies and may be asked by the Council or Town Manager to provide input on specific topics.
The commission's role has been advisory since its creation.
The Town values that input, while recognizing that final decisions remain the responsibility of Town leadership, which is accountable for acting in the best interest of the community as a whole." DeSimone tells News4 Tucson there was no genuine reach out from town staff to ask for help from this commission.
"It was the attitude towards four, actually five professionals that no one really wanted our guidance on anything," DeSimone said.
They follow parliamentary rules and procedures, and do not perform the role of the Town Staff or elected Council.
Occasionally confusion about this can result, particularly around an election season.
In the recent election voters had the opportunity to support current policies, and they did so by a significant margin.
Residents should visit the Explore Oro Valley website to see just some of the current work the Town is doing in promoting the incredible town we live in as a desirable tourist destination." Councilmember Mary Murphy is serves as the Town Council liaison to the Tourism Advisory Commission.
In a statement Murphy said: "As the Council liaison, I am disappointed to learn of the recent and sudden resignation of four of the five highly qualified Tourism Advisory Commissioners.
I respect and appreciate all of our amazing resident-volunteers who choose to serve our beautiful community.
I'd specifically like to thank these four Commissioners for their strong efforts over the last year to bring a transparent approach to the tourism process, which is something I believe all of our residents deserve."