Martin Quezada

Arizona since: Birth.

Occupation: Attorney, Law Office of Martin Quezada, since 2009; judicial law clerk, AZ Court of Appeals, 2007-2008; research analyst, AZ House of Representatives, 2001-2005.

Marital: Single.

Religious preference: Catholic.

Education: J.D., ASU, 2008; B.A., administration of justic, ASU West, 2001; A.A., general studies, Glendale Community College, 1998; Centennial High School (Peoria), 1995.

Political experience: Candidate, Pendergast Elementary School District Governing Bd, 2010; candidate, AZ State House of Representatives, District 13, 2010; candidate, Phoenix Union High School District Governing Bd, 2006.

Legis exp: House since March 5, 2012. Appointed to replace Richard Miranda.

Memberships: Los Abogados, AZ Hispanic Bar Assn Bd of Directors since 2009; Los Diablos, ASU Alumni Assn Bd of Directors since 2001; member, Maryvale Village Planning Committee, since 2009; bd member, West Phoenix Revitalization Community Advisory, since 2009; State Bar of AZ Leadership Institute, Class V, 2011-2012.

Interests: Reading, sports, pets, spending time with friends/family.

Political influence: Several individuals who I have worked for, watched or supported in the last 10 years, including Joe Eddie Lopez, Pete Rios, John Loredo, Steve Gallardo, etc.

Job creation measures: Improving quality of public education to provide a better-educated workforce is first and foremost. Secondly, measures that would encourage industries to re-locate into Arizona to take advantage of the natural resources we have to offer.

Top Issues: Providing a quality public education to our children; protecting the state’s most vulnerable populations from further attacks.

Prop 100 sales tax extension: I favor funding our public education system at a level that gives our students the best chance at success. If that means extending the sales tax to fund public education, then I am in favor of it. If it will be used for other budgetary items, then I oppose.

Illegal immigration: Illegal immigration is a serious federal issue. We need to work with (not against) Congress to find solutions to our broken immigration system. Muddying up the waters by trying to address illegal immigration at the state level is a costly mistake.

Background & experience: My background/experience has given me excellent preparation to be a legislator. I’ve spent five years working as staff for the Democrat Caucus of the AZ Senate and AZ House. I’ve spent three years in law school; one year working for the AZ Court of Appeals and the past three years practicing law in our state’s courts. My involvement in my community has given me the honor of earning the respect of my constituents and the ability to understand their issues.

Pro-life / pro-choice: Personally opposed (with some obvious exceptions for certain circumstances), but fully respect a woman’s right to choose.

One last thing: It’s an honor to have served in the House since March 2012, and I take my position very seriously and hope to make my constituents proud. My goals are not to reach higher office or to make a name for Martin Quezada, but to help create policy that will be in the best interest of all Arizonans, even if that means my personal political future stops here.

Campaign finance: private.