Preceded by Fred J. Fife Alma mater University of Utah Role Senator Office Senator since 2009 | Residence Salt Lake City, Utah Name Luz Escamilla Political party Utah Democratic Party Children Aileen Robles | |
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Occupation Banker, business consultant Religion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) Spouse Juan Carlos Escamilla (m. 2014) Education University of Utah (2005), University of Utah (2000), Mater Dei Catholic High School | ||
Senator Luz Escamilla Shares Her Sheroes
Luz Robles Escamilla is the Senator for the Utah State Senate's 1st District (map), defeating Republican Carlton Christensen for the seat November 4, 2008 after having beaten incumbent Sen. Fred Fife for the party nomination earlier that year.
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Early life, education, and career
The daughter of two Mexican college professors, Robles was born in 1977 and raised in Mexico. After moving to the United States in 1996, Robles graduated from Marian Catholic High School in San Diego, CA. She then earned her Bachelor of Science at the University of Utah in business marketing in 2000. She also holds a Masters in Public Administration, which she earned from the University of Utah in 2005. Robles is a single mother to her daughter Aileen and is engaged to longtime boyfriend and Arizona lawmaker Juan Carlos Escamilla. He proposed on the Senate floor during the 2014 legislative session.
Robles is a director for the Zions Bank Business Resource Center. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who are often referred to as Mormons.
Political career
Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. appointed Robles to the State Office of Ethnic Affairs in 2005. In 2010, she received the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Pathfinder Award and the SBA Award. She has also received the Pete Suazo Memorial Award from the University of Utah. Senator Robles has also served as a board member for the University of Utah College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Regence Caring Foundation, the Utah Health Policy Project, and the Primary Children's Medical Center. Robles was first elected to the Utah State Senate in 2008, and was re-elected in 2012. In 2014, Robles served on the Executive Appropriations Committee and the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee. [4] She also served on the following Senate standing committees:
Robles is running for Congress in Utah's 2nd congressional district. The seat is currently held by Republican incumbent Chris Stewart.
2014 sponsored legislation
Pivotal bills
During the 2011 Legislative Session, Robles pioneered groundbreaking immigration reform legislation, SB60, which would issue illegal immigrants already living in Utah an "accountability card,” giving them the right to work without changing their legal status. Immigrants would have to pass a criminal background check and learn English to obtain the permit. Immigration experts have hailed Robles' immigration bill and Robles herself as "ground breaking" and "creative." While her SB60 did not pass, it was a model for a guest worker program that ultimately did pass the 2011 Legislature.
Robles has also proposed a bill that would protect the rights of fathers against fraudulent adoption practices. SB 63 would have allowed a compact of states to share punitive father’s records. This would help protect father’s rights if mothers took their children out of the state without the father’s knowledge. The bill was not voted on the floor before Utah’s 45 day session was completed.