Kiana Sears

Kiana Sears graduated from Marion Abramson High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from in interpersonal and intercultural communication from Arizona State University and a graduate degree in public administration from Arizona State University. Her career experience includes working as a public administrator.[2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a community and civil rights advocate, engaged ASU Sun Devil, nonprofit community leader, and a skilled Arizona public policy professional. My commitment to service is inspired by my father, a Vietnam veteran, and my mother, a dedicated civil servant in municipal water services for many years. I am a proud 25+ year resident of Mesa, and proudly serve as the State Senator of Legislative District 9 and the highest-ranking African American officeholder in Arizona.

I previously served on the Mesa Public School Board for 8 impactful years, and believe we must pay special attention to the education of all Arizona’s children and that we must strive for a well-funded public education system that is inclusive of students with special needs. I graduated from ASU, where I currently serve as a Professor of Practice, with a Master’s in Public Administration.

Early in my career, I served on the research staff for the Arizona State Senate where I learned about the workings of state government and the details of crafting successful public policy. I later spent 7 years as Executive Utility Regulatory Consultant for the Arizona Corporation Commission, where I learned the intricacies of rule-making regarding solar energy, water, and wastewater. I have since been a strong voice for clean energy policy and climate justice in my community and now at the Legislature.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Every Arizonan deserves access to food, housing, healthcare, and essential goods. As a legislator, I have focused on making Arizona more affordable by reducing the cost of healthcare and improving access to housing and education. I was proud to sponsor a bill this year to prevent price gouging on essential prescription medication. With homeownership out of reach for many, I cosponsored legislation to address the unregulated corporate homeownership that has driven up the cost of buying and renting homes in our state while hardworking people are being displaced and unhoused. I also cosponsored several bills that would have significantly improved our public education funding.Public safety is vitally important to thriving communities. I believe we should invest in solutions to keep our children safe from predators and policies to prevent gun violence in our schools and neighborhoods. I support an approach to public safety that respects and uplifts communities and first responders by helping people rather than causing harm, which in turn builds relationships and instills trust. This looks like improving mental health crisis response, pursuing and strengthening community policing partnerships, protecting the rights and freedoms of our immigrant neighbors, and ensuring departments have the training and tools they need to keep people safe while respecting individual rights.Bringing more high-wage jobs to Arizona and investing in workforce and talent development to fill those roles is key to building an Arizona that works for everyone. I believe in policies that ensure all families have access to low-cost, high-quality childcare, and investing in high-quality public education that serves all of our students. Our schools are the fundamental building block of our economy and should serve as a pipeline to high-paying jobs through exceptional education. This year, I have sponsored legislation to ensure that all Arizona students receive information about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which applies to a wide range of post-secondary educational opportunities.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I want to see Arizona not only survive, but thrive. Because of that, I am deeply passionate about public education policy, clean energy and water conservation, and ensuring food and housing security for all Arizonans.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My commitment to service is inspired by my father, a Vietnam veteran, and my mother, a dedicated civil servant in municipal water services for many years. I also look to the example of trailblazing women before me like Shirley Chisolm. She once said that “service is the rent you pay for room on this earth" and her words are part of what has inspired me to run for office.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I believe the most important characteristics for an elected official are respect for self and others, a practice of servant leadership, and above all, honesty and integrity.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To serve the people of our state, both on the Senate floor and through constituent service.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to help future generations to live well, secure good jobs, and enjoy a robust social safety net. I want to help secure Arizona's water future for generations to come.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was at 15.5, when I worked at a checkout counter in a grocery store. It was then that I joined my first union. Through the union, I was able to secure shift work that I could balance with my schooling, which is what allowed me to succeed academically. The union also made sure that we had shock absorbing pads to stand on, which was a small thing but made a big difference to those of us standing in one position for hours at a time. I stayed through high school.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

It has always been a struggle to know that there is an incomplete record of the contributions of Black Americans in American History.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Over the next decade, our greatest challenges will be the future of our water and an energy crisis coupled with the challenge of building an educated workforce without investment in our public educational institutions.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

There are some who treat governing as an opportunity to score political points or advance ideological culture wars at the expense of the marginalized, and those that recognize that our role is to provide solutions that matter to the people of Arizona. I consider myself one of the latter, and have been successful working with my colleagues both in my own caucus and across the aisle who believe the same.

For me, successful bipartisanship is a matter of treating people with respect, and expecting the same in return. Through this approach, I and many of my Democratic colleagues have been successful in advancing legislation that serves the people of Arizona.

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

My first memory of a historical event was the space shuttle Challenger disaster on Jan 28, 1986. I was 11 at the time, fascinated by space, and watching that explosion live on television in my classroom was a memory I will never forget. I had just celebrated my birthday with a space-themed birthday party and had dreams of becoming an astronaut. After that tragedy, I began to think more about how we care about each other and the value of caring for people who are hurt or ill, and decided to explore nursing as a potential career. I have been grateful to see a new generation of young people embracing the joy of space exploration.

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Kiana Sears did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.