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Dorene Lorenz
Dorene Lorenz ran for election to the Juneau City Assembly to represent District 2 in Alaska. She lost in the general election on October 1, 2024.
Lorenz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Dorene Lorenz was born in Seward, Alaska. She earned a high school diploma from Chugiak High School. Lorenz's career experience includes working in consulting, news, public relations, marketing, design, and historic preservation. As of 2024, Lorenz was affiliated with Pioneers of Alaska, Sons of Norway, and Filcom.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: City elections in Juneau, Alaska (2024)
General election
General election for Juneau City Assembly District 2
Maureen Hall defeated Nathaniel Brooks, Emily Mesch, Dorene Lorenz, and Mary Marks in the general election for Juneau City Assembly District 2 on October 1, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Maureen Hall (Nonpartisan) | 36.7 | 3,552 | |
| Nathaniel Brooks (Nonpartisan) | 31.4 | 3,034 | ||
 | Emily Mesch (Nonpartisan) | 12.5 | 1,205 | |
 | Dorene Lorenz (Nonpartisan)  | 10.7 | 1,036 | |
 | Mary Marks (Nonpartisan) | 8.8 | 849 | |
| Total votes: 9,676 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
To view Lorenz's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Lorenz in this election.
2023
See also: City elections in Juneau, Alaska (2023)
General election
General election for Juneau City Assembly Areawide (2 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Juneau City Assembly Areawide on October 3, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Paul Kelly (Nonpartisan) | 19.7 | 3,393 | |
| ✔ | Ella Adkison (Nonpartisan) | 17.1 | 2,940 | |
| Nathaniel Brooks (Nonpartisan) | 16.4 | 2,826 | ||
| Laura McDonnell (Nonpartisan) | 14.3 | 2,458 | ||
| JoAnn Wallace (Nonpartisan) | 14.2 | 2,457 | ||
| Dorene Lorenz (Nonpartisan) | 5.0 | 863 | |
| Jeff Jones (Nonpartisan) | 4.4 | 757 | ||
| Michele Stuart-Morgan (Nonpartisan) | 4.2 | 732 | ||
| Emily Mesch (Nonpartisan) | 3.5 | 595 | |
| Ivan Nance (Nonpartisan) | 1.3 | 222 | ||
| Total votes: 17,243 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Lorenz in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dorene Lorenz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lorenz's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Dorene Lorenz pets porcupine
I’ve channeled my communications expertise into a public affairs and marketing consultancy where my strategic guidance helps organizations align their messaging with their core values and engage the public on critical matters.
My involvement in civic initiatives reflects a lifelong dedication to public service. I was elected to serve on the Seward City Council, and appointed to the Anchorage Arts Advisory Committee and the AVTEC Institutional Advisory Committee, as well as the Seward Historic Preservation Commission, Economic Development, Waterfront Development, Alternative Energy, Long-Term Care Replacement Facility, and Centennial Legacy Committees, and the CBJ Sister Cities Committee.
As a proud fourth-generation Alaskan, my deep connection is evident in my 20+ year involvement in preserving history through the Pioneers of Alaska, where I am currently serving my third term as President of the Juneau Women's Igloo, first term as Historian for the Sons of Norway Svalbard Lodge No. 33, third-term member of the CBJ Historic Resources Advisory Committee, and on the Navy League and the Alaska State Historic Commission.- We need a strong, diversified economy with year-round jobs paying wages that you can raise a family on, exceptional schools and recreational opportunities, and the ability to gracefully age-in-place in a safe, affordable home. We need to remember that our residents are Juneau's biggest resource and not treat them like an afterthought.
- I am committed to maintaining transparency in government operations and the decision-making processes. We need to make sure that CBJ's governance matches up with our community values.
- Our goals can be accomplished in a reasonable, measured manner, if when the tough issues come up you always vote for community sustainability. If we need more pie so everyone can have an equal slice of opportunity at the exceptional quality of life that should come with living in Juneau, please let me put my mad baking skills to work at growing a more diverse economy and creating family-supporting jobs.
The CBJ operates under a home rule charter, giving the Assembly significant autonomy to tailor its policies and regulations to the unique needs of the Juneau community.
As Alaska's capital city, Juneau is the political heart of the state, thriving when its heartbeat is strong and robust. The CBJ can lead by serving as a testing ground for innovative policies and programs that can be replicated statewide.
Decisions made by the Juneau Assembly directly impact how the state capital functions, including facilitating state government operations and services. Having the best quality of life in Alaska keeps State of Alaska jobs where they belong - in Juneau.
Legal System
In their scripts they don't shy away from taking risks with controversial topics using difficult conversations filled with sharp, rapid-fire dialogue and witty, intelligent thought-provoking exchanges.
You have to love the weeds of policy making.
I’m deeply dedicated to serving the community, valuing collaboration with fellow officeholders, staff, and residents. I actively listen and communicate clearly, ensuring all voices are heard. I believe in transparency, ethical decision-making, and that the best solutions come from collective effort. My vision extends beyond immediate needs, planning strategically for long-term sustainability and growth.
Assembly members must adopt a budget that reflects the values of the community, making sure that resources are dedicated to provide the services the citizens need, followed by the services the citizens want.
I filed pleadings at the courthouse and with opposing counsel, swore out affidavits of service after banging them out on a manual typerwriter with three sheets of carbon paper. Learned how to sort mail then tab, index, and file the pleadings and correspondence.
Margot is a strong-willed and passionate woman caught in the turmoil of political and religious conflicts. Her courage and determination to navigate these dangerous waters make her a compelling figure.
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance required a conscious effort to set boundaries and prioritize self-care. This experience taught me the importance of resilience, self-awareness, and the value of building a strong support system, both personally and professionally.
Its basically a grant from the IRS where you can take off your taxes 20% of the cost of getting a new roof, a new boiler, redoing the wiring and plumbing, painting the house - basically if you shake the building upside down most anything that doesn't fall out can qualify.
The grants are non-competitive, start at $5k with no ceiling, and you can receive them annually. They also can be twinned with other federal programs like Low Income Housing and New Market Tax Credits. Find out more at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/taxincentives/index.htm
You can't run a local government like a small business or corporation. Consensus with other Assembly members is essential—there's no room for a "my way or the highway" approach. Effective governance requires not taking things personally, working collaboratively, and making tough decisions that may be painful in the short term but benefit the community in the long term. This demands grit, perseverance, and strong people skills.
It's also important to understand that designated funds are legally required to stay within their specific purpose and can't be moved around like in a personal budget. Promising action is one thing, but delivering on that promise—or even not acting—requires more than just good intentions. There's no magic wand; it takes thorough homework, creative problem-solving, and not relying solely on CBJ staff for answers.
A deep understanding of environmental stewardship, sustainability practices, and respect for our diverse cultures is crucial, alongside knowledge of government operations, municipal law, and public policy.
Fiscal responsibility is paramount. Raising property taxes should never be the first solution to funding challenges. Multi-million dollar financial and budgeting expertise is a must, including managing debt, allocating funds, public entity budgeting, enterprise funds, and distinguishing between discretionary and designated funds.
Negotiation and conflict resolution skills are essential, focusing on mutually beneficial outcomes rather than personal victories.
What is 12 feet long and smells like urine? Line dance at the Senior Center.
After a work session just before an Assembly meeting and prior to a vote on a related action item, members should provide a brief synopsis explaining their vote. This transparency helps prevent any appearance of impropriety.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2023
Dorene Lorenz did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Juneau City Assembly District 2 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 30, 2024
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