Campaign Management, Public Affairs, Lobbying & Public Relations
Arizona
Campaign Management, Public Affairs, Lobbying & Public Relations
Arizona
Battle tested
We are battle tested, odds-beating, nationally recognized leaders in campaigns, public relations, public affairs, communications, advocacy and political consulting. If you want to win. Call us.
Featured Services
PR, Communications & Marketing
PR, Communications & Marketing
PR, Communications & Marketing
Today’s communications needs are more complex and demanding than ever. From traditional media relations to crisis communications, Lumen Strategies Arizona can be your public relations partner.
Services offered:
- Media outreach and engagement
- Crisis communications
- Event planning and implementation
- Social and digital media
- Branding and marketing
- Media surrogates and spokespeople
- Coalition building
Campaign Management
PR, Communications & Marketing
PR, Communications & Marketing
We love tough campaigns others won't even consider. It’s why, as lead political consultants, we beat Joe Arpaio, elected the first Latina to a statewide office in Arizona, and successfully legalized adult-use marijuana with the most votes of any campaign in state history.
Services offered:
- General consulting
- Campaign management & planning
- Message development
- Targeting
- Content and collateral creation
- Coalition building
- Multi-media ad placement
- Crisis communications
- Media relations
Public Affairs & Lobbying
PR, Communications & Marketing
Public Affairs & Lobbying
Whether it’s navigating a complex regulatory or legal issue, or building a coalition of key stakeholders, we can help you put together the pieces to successfully achieve your public policy goals.
Services offered:
- Advocacy
- Lobbying
- Media relations
- Grassroots and grasstops organizing
- Stakeholder engagement
- Policy and regulatory monitoring
- Community relations
- Social and digtial media
Principals
Stacy Pearson | Co-Founder
Maritza Miranda Saenz | Senior Vice President
Maritza Miranda Saenz | Senior Vice President
With more than 25 years in Arizona politics and journalism, Stacy is trusted by clients to "come up with the plan.”
She develops and executes solutions across political campaigns, crises, traditional PR and grassroots efforts and other marketing and communications initiatives. Her experience spans the state – from the Tucson Zoo to the Na
With more than 25 years in Arizona politics and journalism, Stacy is trusted by clients to "come up with the plan.”
She develops and executes solutions across political campaigns, crises, traditional PR and grassroots efforts and other marketing and communications initiatives. Her experience spans the state – from the Tucson Zoo to the Navajo Nation and many communities in between.
She co-founded Lumen Strategies with Chad Campbell in 2022, after more than six years at the helm of the Arizona outpost of a national public affairs firm. Chad was called to serve Governor Katie Hobbs as Chief of Staff in May 2023.
Stacy continues to represent some of the state’s and nation’s most recognizable companies, brands and people.
Stacy’s 20-plus year career in Arizona journalism, public relations, public affairs and campaign consulting has racked up more than 100 victories -- but there’s one particular win that reverberated globally. Stacy led the 2016 campaign of the underdog who defeated the infamous Sheriff Joe Arpaio after 24 years in Maricopa County – a victory called “one of the silver linings for Democrats” by national pundits in the year Donald Trump won Arizona, and the presidency.
Her candidate was outspent 12:1 by the Republican icon who was called the “Donald Trump before Trump – his political Godfather” by the New York Times. Regardless, Arpaio lost by 13.6 points thanks to the best researched, most diverse, most disciplined and most technologically concise crossover campaign Arizona had ever seen.
In 2020, Stacy drew from that successful playbook as lead political consultant for the Smart & Safe Arizona campaign to legalize adult-use marijuana, and won 60/40 – notably, just four years after Arizona's 2016 legalization initiative failed. Smart & Safe Arizona was the first legalization effort in the nation in which law enforcement was formally neutral, and that was a direct result of Stacy’s leadership and coalition building.
Stacy began her career in a newsroom, where she was an award-winning newspaper reporter. That work laid the foundation for the fast, accurate, creative, results-driven work she’s recruited to do, today.
Beyond the office, she’s a cop’s wife, Sun Devil’s mom, dog rescuer, and having been born in Chicago, she roots for the White Sox and anyone beating the Cubs.
Stacy holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Mass Communication at Arizona State and has called the Valley home for 40 years.
Maritza Miranda Saenz | Senior Vice President
Maritza Miranda Saenz | Senior Vice President
Maritza Miranda Saenz | Senior Vice President
Maritza Miranda Saenz is the daughter of farmworkers who instilled in her a sense of responsibility to advocate for the community. Growing up in South Phoenix, political engagement and activism were part of her upbringing.
She has worked as a consultant for successful campaigns from the State legislature to school boards to the Maricopa
Maritza Miranda Saenz is the daughter of farmworkers who instilled in her a sense of responsibility to advocate for the community. Growing up in South Phoenix, political engagement and activism were part of her upbringing.
She has worked as a consultant for successful campaigns from the State legislature to school boards to the Maricopa County Community College Board.
She began her career in the legal field, serving as a client liaison. With 15 years of experience, she learned that any avenue of advocacy should start with an understanding of the law. She created a safe haven for Dreamers to study, learn and work together. She continues to be inspired by their dedication to education, family, and the values that all Americans hold dear.
She joined the dedicated staff of the Maricopa County Democratic Party where she served as the Director of Operations. She served as the Executive Director during the important 2020 election. She was the only Latina and first mom to take on the role of the Executive Director position. Under her leadership, the MCDP recruited more volunteers, ran more candidates, and raised more money than any previous year.
Following the 2020 election, she moved to the funding world by becoming the Arizona State Director for The Impact Project. Through her work, organizations defended against hundreds of bad democracy bills and economic security bills. Her team protected the child tax credit from creditors and expanded medicaid postpartum coverage.
Consistent strategic funding led to smart session accountability work focused on tested messages.
During redistricting, she guided the strategy and funded multiple partners on a redistricting campaign that contributed to fair maps. To ready the team for the 2022 elections, she was a key and early voice at TIP identifying Latino voters as a persuasion audience, which helped to shift their strategy significantly in Arizona (and other states). Additionally, she assisted in-state partners to secure additional donors to support their work.
She and her husband, of 20 years, are raising their family in the far west Valley, where her family once picked cotton in the Goodyear Tire farms. Their motivation will always be to leave a strong state in the hands of their four children, Mariella, Abraham, Erin Marie, and Naomi. She enjoys spending time at their numerous band competitions and sporting events. Finally, her dedication and commitment to her community would never have been possible without her loving parents, Ben, Lucy and Mike.
Andrew Wunder | Senior Vice President
Maritza Miranda Saenz | Senior Vice President
Andrew Wunder | Senior Vice President
Andrew is a multi-talented consultant with diverse experience spanning the political, public and private sector.
Prior to joining Lumen, he served as Chief of Staff for Phoenix Councilwoman Betty Guardado for more than four years.
During the pandemic he worked with the Phoenix council to strategically allocate federal funds to vulnerable
Andrew is a multi-talented consultant with diverse experience spanning the political, public and private sector.
Prior to joining Lumen, he served as Chief of Staff for Phoenix Councilwoman Betty Guardado for more than four years.
During the pandemic he worked with the Phoenix council to strategically allocate federal funds to vulnerable populations while maintaining city operations. He was recognized for his uncanny ability to solve problems for residents -- regardless of size or scope.
Throughout his career, he has worked races at the local, county, and state level – including sheriff, aldermanic, mayoral, attorney general, recall, and more.
While he has worked in many different roles and capacities, he has a strength in field operations. This includes managing grassroots campaigns and delivering highly effective results in the areas of data management, precinct analysis, and micro-targeting. Whether it is increasing turnout among base voters, expanding the electorate, or neutralizing an opponent he builds a literal map to success.
Outside of his career in the political sphere, he has assisted in the fundraising efforts of non-profits. In this time, he worked in operational development creating sustainable processes to eliminate waste and ensure positive growth.
Andrew lives in Phoenix and takes tremendous pride in not owning a winter coat.
Tom Evans | Senior Vice President
Maritza Miranda Saenz | Senior Vice President
Andrew Wunder | Senior Vice President
Tom is a well-known veteran in public relations, marketing, advertising and public affairs in Arizona.
He is a seasoned professional with more than 25 years of experience in communications and has worked with hundreds of clients over this time, ranging from small businesses to nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies. He previously served as P
Tom is a well-known veteran in public relations, marketing, advertising and public affairs in Arizona.
He is a seasoned professional with more than 25 years of experience in communications and has worked with hundreds of clients over this time, ranging from small businesses to nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies. He previously served as Partner-Public Relations and Event Strategies at ON Advertising in Phoenix, where he oversaw the communications strategies for a broad spectrum of corporate and nonprofit clients.
Before going to ON Advertising, Tom was Principal of his own consulting firm, Evans Communications, which served some of Arizona’s most high-profile public and private sector organizations. He is also a faculty associate at the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Lumen on the record
Consultant and former lawmaker Chad Campbell Tapped as New Chief of Staff
“Chad’s extensive experience and commitment to working together to solve tough problems is exactly why he’s the best person for this job, and we’re eager to get to work on more bipartisan accomplishments to move our state forward,” Governor Katie Hobbs said.
Arizona Capitol Times | May 31, 2023 | Link
Arizona Fires its First Shot Against Sprawl
To talk about what’s next after the City of Phoenix groundwater announcement, a new medical school from Arizona State University and more, The Show sat down with Stacy Pearson, co-founder of Lumen Strategies, and Chuck Coughlin of HighGround Consulting.
KJZZ | June 2, 2023 | Link
What Grade Would You Give the Arizona Governor?
"Square Off" political insiders Stacy Pearson, a Democratic consultant at Lumen Strategies, and Christine Jones, a former Republican candidate for governor, rate Gov. Katie Hobbs' job performance after three months in office.
Sunday Square Off 3TV | Apr. 3, 2023 | Link
Consultants discuss Kari Lake ruling and Krysten Sinema’s chance at reelection
Consultants Lisa James and Stacy Pearson discuss the latest legal ruling for Kari Lake and whether Kyrsten Sinema has a realistic hope for reelection.
Politics Unplugged 12 News | Mar. 23, 2023 | Link
Is Arizona Really Becoming More Purple? What the 2024 Senate Race Could Tell Us
“I wish I could say that Arizona’s turning blue and all the good work we’ve done is convincing people that progressive ideas are right, but that’s not where the state is yet,” said Stacy Pearson, a Phoenix-based Democratic strategist and longtime Sinema ally. “Arizona is not any more progressive, but it continues to reject extremism.”
Los Angeles Times | Feb. 1, 2023 | Link
Chad Campbell Appointed to Gov.-Elect Hobbs Transition Team
"I’m pleased to announce my full administration transition team made up of public service, business, labor, & advocacy leaders from both sides of the aisle. I look forward to working with these outstanding local leaders as we build an administration that works for all Arizonans." Governor Elect Katie Hobbs
Nov. 22, 2022 | Link
Many election-denying candidates ran in Arizona elections. Here's who won and lost.
...Pearson had harsher words for candidates who can't let go of the 2020 election.
"I would also advise them to see a therapist," Pearson said. "If they are still this rage-filled about conspiracy theories levied in 2020, it’s time to go talk to someone."
AZCentral | Nov. 18, 2022 | Link
This race for the AZ House is among the most competitive. The result could shape future elections
“These issues aren’t in line with the vast majority of Arizonans,” Campbell said. “They’re not good issues for Republicans because they’re crazy ... They’re not in line with the majority of Arizonans (and the GOP) knows that.”
AZCentral | Oct. 25, 2022 | Link
Can candidates for governor rally their parties in Arizona’s midterm?
KJZZ's Friday NewsCap: Fallout from the canceled gubernatorial debate continues
KJZZ’s Friday NewsCap revisits some of the biggest stories of the week.
This week saw more dramatic developments regarding the state of this year's gubernatorial debate, which itself will not happen after Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs refused to debate her Republican opponent, Kari Lake.
And one Arizona county is looking to hand-count its ballots this election season.
To discuss these happenings and more, The Show spoke with Emily Ryan of Copper State Consulting and Stacy Pearson of Lumen Strategies.
KJZZ | Oct. 14, 2022 | Link
Arizona Democrats hope to flip the governor's mansion, but Katie Hobbs has some worried
"The handwringing over Katie Hobbs is wildly overstated," said local Democratic strategist Stacy Pearson. "This is a homegrown candidate who has served her state for more than a decade since before Arizona was a swing state. So, if she's not polished enough, or hasn't had 20 years of television experience, or isn't quick enough on the draw, most Arizonans don't care."
ABC News | Oct. 5 | Link
Arizona’s Supreme Court blocks an election reform ballot measure, voiding over 238,000 petition sign
“What we’re seeing here is the result of 20 years of Republican efforts to chip away at democracy in Arizona,” Stacy Pearson, a spokeswoman for the coalition supporting the ballot measure, said in an interview on Tuesday.
New York Times | Aug. 30, 2022 | Link