Lorena Austin

Lorena is a 5th generation Arizonan whose lifelong love for advocacy and leadership has been rooted in Mesa for almost a century. For over twenty years, her grandparents owned and operated Albert’s Market in Mesa, which served all residents including minorities residing in segregated neighborhoods. Her father went on to become a small business owner and civil rights attorney, known for building relationships and creating community organizations. In fact, she currently work alongside him in hopes of continuing the advancement of communities in Mesa.

While her father’s family has deep roots within Mesa, Lorena spent part of her childhood living with her mom in central California. While growing up, her family spent periods of time in section 8 housing and homeless shelters due to economic hardship and financial instability. Her family worked hard to ensure that she and her siblings were taken care of to the best of their abilities. This desire to work comes from both sides of her family, as both her father’s and mother’s family include farm workers. It is this strong work ethic to get things done for the community that drives Lorena today.

That’s why Lorena is running to be the next Arizona State Representative for Legislative District 9. There is work to be done in this community, whether it be quality education, health care, affordable housing, or tackling the climate crisis, we need leaders who can get it done.