Nancy Baca is an economics professor who has lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, for more than 40 years, with experience in private industry, higher education and economic research. She is a candidate for an at-large seat on the Flagstaff City Council in 2026.
Case
Networked automated license-plate cameras can assemble searchable records of vehicle movements. Candidates and officials disagree over whether to ban the systems, keep them with limits, or defend them as investigative tools. This tracker separates outright bans from narrower restrictions.
Role at the time: Candidate for Flagstaff City Council
Statement summary
Nancy Baca said the debate over Flock did not end with the council's decision not to renew the contract, and that the city must evaluate emerging technologies for first responders while considering how long data is kept and who can access it.
“While the sitting council already made its decision regarding the nonrenewal of the Flock contract, the conversation is far from over. This is not the last time our community will be faced with balancing technology and privacy while also providing support to our first responders. Departments remain understaffed and we must evaluate emerging technologies that can help increase the safety of responders and citizens alike. As we move forward, we must also be thoughtful about privacy, how long data is retained and who has access to it.”
The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. Baca did not call for a ban or for bringing Flock back; she said the city must evaluate emerging technologies that can help first responders while being careful about how long data is kept and who can see it. That is openness to the technology subject to data limits, so Mixed or conditional fits.
Statement dates: August 16, 2026
Statement dates: August 16, 2026
Statement dates: August 16, 2026
Statement dates: August 16, 2026
