Written by 2025 Fall Intern Abigail Marquez
Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month: Laura Pastor, a Champion of Progressivism
This Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re celebrating Laura Pastor, a fifth-generation Arizonan, educator, and progressive Democratic leader fighting for a better Phoenix.
As a Phoenix City Councilmember for District 4, Laura fights for what matters most: affordable housing, safe and accessible neighborhoods, strong schools, and transparent government. Her leadership is grounded in community and guided by compassion. She shows up for her constituents with community clean-up operations, information sessions, community-focused events, and so much more. Recently, the storm in Arizona has been flooding homes, so Laura Pastor made sure her neighbors were safe and provided sand for sandbags to help minimize home damage in Phoenix.
Laura Pastor is the daughter of Congressman Ed Pastor, Arizona’s first Mexican-American member of Congress. She is carrying forward her familial legacy of selfless service, not by inheriting power, but by earning the trust of others. After graduating from St. Mary’s High School, Laura got a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Public Administration at Baruch College’s School of Public Affairs.
She launched her career as a teacher in the Roosevelt and Isaac Elementary School Districts, where she created multiple volunteer programs that enhanced students’ educational outcomes. She showed her strong organizing skills.
As the Director of the Achieving a College Education Program (ACE) at South Mountain Community College, Laura Pastor assists students in transitioning from high school to community college and earning bachelor’s degrees. She has served as the Community Liaison at Phoenix College, fostering partnerships between the college and the greater Phoenix community. Previously, she served as Director of Early Outreach and spent over a decade on the Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board, where she championed inclusive and strategic leadership. Today, Laura is a Phoenix City Council member, continuing her advocacy in the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Subcommittee, the Valley Metro Rail Board, and multiple community committees, a testament to her unwavering commitment to civic progress.
Laura’s inspirational journey from humble teacher to prominent city leader reminds us why representation matters and when Democratic women lead, families thrive, and our communities grow stronger.
-Abigail Marquez
October 15th, 2025