Meet Rep. Aaron Márquez,
Dedicated to Service
Board Member, Phoenix IDA
Representative Aaron Márquez brings a lifelong commitment to public service, community development and educational opportunity to his role on the Phoenix IDA board of directors. Elected in November 2024 to represent Legislative District 5 in the Arizona State House, Márquez reflects the values of a dedicated civic leader whose work spans education, veteran advocacy and responsible economic growth.
A proud U.S. Army veteran, Márquez has long championed policies that support service members, military families and veterans transitioning back into civilian life. He currently serves as co-chair of the bipartisan Veterans Caucus at the Legislature, where he works to advance programs and initiatives that honor and uplift those who served.
His passion for this work is reflected in his support for affordable housing, including Phoenix IDA-backed projects that assist veterans, such as the Glendale Apartments, an affordable housing development supported by the Phoenix IDA through bond financing in late 2024. Located near Glendale and 27th avenues in Phoenix, this community will provide 45 affordable units for residents 55+, including 11 units reserved for U.S. military veterans.
Education is another pillar of Márquez’s public service. He was elected to the Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board in 2020, inspired by Mayor Kate Gallego’s efforts to engage leaders committed to student success and community well-being. In addition to his legislative responsibilities, he remains deeply involved in public education policy, focusing on increased investment, school safety, and pathways that prepare students for college and career.
Márquez was appointed to the Phoenix IDA board in 2021, drawn to the organization’s mission to expand opportunity through strategic community investment. What he finds most compelling about the Phoenix IDA is its unique ability to pair innovative financing tools with programs that drive meaningful public benefit. “The IDA is unlike any other board,” he noted, emphasizing how its Community Development Fund reinvests resources back into neighborhoods and projects where they can have the greatest impact. He points to projects like the exploratory grant to City Year, which supports embedded AmeriCorps members in Phoenix Union and Osborn school districts, as examples of how targeted funding can strengthen schools and support student achievement.
Márquez is committed to ensuring the Phoenix IDA continues expanding affordable housing, educational opportunities and economic mobility while prioritizing projects that directly benefit Arizonans that would not be possible without innovative financing options.
Outside of public service, Márquez enjoys hiking Arizona’s trails and playing basketball, grounding his busy schedule with activities that connect him to the community he serves.
