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The 2020 primary is rapidly entering the homestretch, and several candidates are vying for seats in the Arizona State Legislature.
Four candidates are competing for two seats in legislative district 19’s Primary on Aug. 4 — incumbent Diego Espinoza of Tolleson, challenger Arturo Ramirez of West Phoenix, incumbent Lorenzo Sierra of Avondale and challenger Leezah Sun of West Phoenix.
The district covers Avondale, Tolleson and West Phoenix.
The Daily Independent fielded several questions to each candidate. Mr. Espinoza and Mr. Ramirez have not returned their questionnaires. Mr. Sierra’s and Ms. Sun’s answers are below.
Lorenzo Sierra
Age: 53
Career and Education: BA in Journalism from ASU. Worked at three Fortune 500 companies in AZ. Currently a business development consultant.
Political experience: Avondale City Council, 2014-2018. AZ House of Representatives, 2018 to present.
What makes you to the best candidate to represent your party in the November General Election?
I have a strong history of supporting our community. As an Avondale City Council member, I oversaw tremendous economic growth. At the House, I have supported our public education system.
What are the three most important issues you will tackle if elected?
Continuing to grow good jobs, improving public education and building strong communities.
What is one commendation and one point of improvement you can work on regarding public safety in the next term?
Ensuring ethnic and gender proportionality in our public safety organizations.
In response to COVID-19 budget deficits, how can the state adopt long-term structural changes to its budget in the foreseeable future?
As a member of the House Ways and Means committee I support a complete overhaul of Arizona’s revenue generation approach.
What can you do to help improve the economy and business community?
At the House I was a critical swing vote on HB2771, which led to Arizona attracting the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company — a $12 billion investment resulting in thousands of good jobs. That vote also helped in attracting the new data center in Avondale.
What should the state’s involvement be in the public education system, especially since most of its funding comes from the state budget, and the way education will be delivered is likely to change because of the pandemic?
Arizona’s Constitution calls for us in the Legislature to fund public education. Our involvement is critical and I take this responsibility very seriously.
What are your plans to improve the transportation infrastructure throughout Arizona, keeping in mind that the way we get around in the future will be affected by how the pandemic plays out?
I support putting an extension of Prop 400 on the ballot. Assuming it passes, I will continue my very vocal advocacy for State Route 30, which will be located south of the I-10 running east-west.
Leezah Sun
Age: 49
Career and Education: College degree in arts and science. Research in academia and pharmaceutical industry.
Political experience: N/A
Years as an Arizona resident: 15
Family: Teenage son
What makes you to the best candidate to represent your party in the November General Election?
1st-generation immigrant. Understand firsthand struggles immigrant families go through in LD19, where vast majority are immigrants.
What are the three most important issues you will tackle if elected?
Quality, free education, stop predatory HOA fees, outlaw dirty money.
What is one commendation and one point of improvement you can work on regarding public safety in the next term?
More funding towards essential workers.
In response to COVID-19 budget deficits, how can the state adopt long-term structural changes to its budget in the foreseeable future?
Rainy day fund format to be setup for future state emergency.
What can you do to help improve the economy and business community?
Create more businesses by creating better school systems across Arizona and support community college funding where most job/career certification is provided. Train and provide skill sets for our youth and unemployment.
What should the state’s involvement be in the public education system, especially since most of its funding comes from the state budget, and the way education will be delivered is likely to change because of the pandemic?
Current voucher bill passed, first of its kind in all 50 states is alarming. We need to first stop the taxpayer’s money leaving the state and educate our youth. Online teaching does not help those unmotivated troubled academic students. Need more funding for smaller virtual teaching and tech support. Most homes don’t have enough bandwidth to support online teaching.
What are your plans to improve the transportation infrastructure throughout Arizona, keeping in mind that the way we get around in the future will be affected by how the pandemic plays out?
Infrastructure need to focus on residential development separate from businesses. Low-income districts like LD19 have businesses bottleneck traffic along with construction for decades, causing working families commute 30 minutes longer. The pandemic and working from home works for those that are not affected by the curfew are doing better but those that lost jobs and businesses need infrastructure that will alleviate car damages from potholes and poorly maintained roads, particularly residential roads and zoning laws benefitting businesses.
Kelly O’Sullivan News Editor | Litchfield Park& Goodyear @AzNewsmedia
Kelly O’Sullivan is a longtime journalist who joined Independent Newsmedia in January 2020, after returning to the Valley from Twentynine Palms, California, where she worked for eight years as a communications specialist for the U.S. Marine Corps. When she’s not covering stories of interest to Litchfield Park, Goodyear and other Southwest Valley residents, she stays busy rediscovering Arizona and photographing its spectacular landscapes and wildlife.
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