Senator Kiana Maria Sears ** represents **Legislative District 9 in the Arizona State Senate. She was appointed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on March 26, 2025, to fill the vacancy left by Eva Burch's resignation and serves the remainder of the term. A longtime Mesa resident for over two decades, Sears is the highest-ranking African American officeholder in Arizona. She has nearly 30 years of experience in public policy, government relations, and civic engagement, including nearly a decade on the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Earned a Master's degree in Public Administration and Public Policy, and a Bachelor's degree in Intercultural Communication, both from Arizona State University.
• Political Experience: Served eight years as a Mesa Public Schools board member. Previously worked as a research staffer for the Arizona State Senate. Appointed Arizona State Senator for LD-9, which spans parts of Mesa from Loop 101 to Val Vista Drive in Supervisorial Districts 1 and 2. Selected from three Democratic candidates as required by Arizona law. Currently defending her Senate seat and has campaigned for Arizona House LD9.