Commissioner Biography

Maria Baier

Commissioner
Arizona State Land Department

In June, 2009, Maria Baier was appointed as the Arizona State Land Commissioner. She is responsible for managing millions of acres of land across the state, much of which is leased for grazing purposes, while other parcels are sold for development or conservation. Proceeds from land sales and leases primarily benefit K-12 education.

Prior to beginning her tenure as Commissioner, Maria served as a Phoenix City Councilwoman. There, she chaired the Economy, Commerce and Sustainability Subcommittee and was a member of the Downtown and Aviation Subcommittee, Housing and Neighborhoods Subcommittee, Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, the League of Arizona Cities and Towns Executive Committee, and the Maricopa Association of Governments Transportation Policy Committee.

Ms. Baier held several executive positions, including President of MBC, Inc. a sustainability consulting firm specializing in sustainable land use and natural resource management practice; President and CEO of Valley Partnership, a trade organization whose primary mission is to “advocate responsible development” primarily on behalf of the commercial real estate development industry; and Director of the Trust for Public Land Arizona Field Office.

Maria spent 10 years on the Executive Staff of the Office of the Governor, serving two administrations. She served as senior policy advisor in the areas of natural resources, growth and development, environmental quality and criminal justice. She also has a background in communications, having served as deputy director of communications and lead speechwriter while with the Governor's Office and as public information officer for the Arizona Attorney General's Office.

She is an active member of the Arizona State Bar and volunteers on numerous state boards and commissions including the Trust for Public Land Arizona Advisory Board, Foundation for Blind Children Great Hearts Academies Board of Directors, Valley Partnership Board of Directors, Central Arizona Partnership Board of Directors.

Ms. Baier received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Arizona State University, her Juris Doctor from the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona in Tucson.