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Catherine Andrea Giessel (née Bohms; born November 9, 1951)[1][2] is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, she has served as Majority Leader of the Alaska Senate since 2023. From 2013 to 2021, Giessel represented District N in the Alaska Senate, including Northeast Anchorage, Anchorage Hillside and the Turnagain Arm communities of Bird, Girdwood, Indian, and Anchorage, all within the Municipality of Anchorage. First elected in 2010 while identifying with Tea Party values, she has also served as the vice-chair of the state Republican Party and had a career in nursing. Following redistricting, she was elected to a different senate seat in 2012. Giessel serves as chair of the Resources Committee and is a member of the Senate Majority Caucus.[3] After Senate President Pete Kelly was unseated in 2018, Giessel was elected president of the Alaska Senate, a post she held until 2021. Giessel returned to the Alaska Senate in 2023, representing the newly configured District E after defeating incumbent Republican Roger Holland. She serves as Senate majority leader in the 33rd Legislature, overseeing a coalition caucus of eight Republicans and nine Democrats.

Early life and career

Cathy Giessel was born Catherine Andrea Bohms in Fairbanks, Alaska, on November 9, 1951, the oldest of three daughters (and four children overall) born to Gerald Johnson "Jerry" (1924–2002) and Ruth Odelia (née Bauer, born 1927) Bohms.[4] Jerry Bohms arrived in Alaska in the late 1940s and worked for Wien Alaska Airlines (a predecessor to Wien Air Alaska). Ruth Bohms holds a degree from Gonzaga University School of Law and was admitted before the bars of Alaska and the United States Supreme Court.[5] Ruth Bohms was a candidate for the Alaska Legislature in 1992, running as an Alaskan Independence Party candidate for a Fairbanks-based seat in the Alaska House of Representatives.[4] Giessel graduated from Lathrop High School in Fairbanks[1] and thereafter gained a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Michigan before moving to Anchorage in 1974.[5]

She worked as an advanced nurse practitioner[6] across a variety of clinics in Anchorage and the North Slope Borough and continues to do healthcare consulting, and gained a master's degree in nursing from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2000.[5] She has been on the Alaska Board of Nursing, serving five years as its chairperson, and also on the Alaska Healthcare Strategy Planning Council.[6] In 2010, she was named an 'exceptional leader' by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.[6]

Political involvement

Before gaining her Senate seat, Giessel served on Sean Parnell's campaign team during his race against Don Young during the Republican primary for Alaska's congressional seat in 2008.[7]

Alaska Senate

2016: Senate District N election

Giessel was up for reelection in 2016. Due to all the previous issues resulting from redistricting, this would be the first time Giessel was eligible to have a 4-year term. Giessel's initial Democratic challenger, local non-profit executive and advocate Hilary Morgan, dropped out of the senate race early in 2016. Shortly before the filing deadline, longtime registered Democrat and President of the Alaska AFL-CIO, Vince Beltrami emerged, filing to run as an independent. The race became one of the most expensive state senate races in Alaska history.[8] Giessel won the November general election, defeating challenger Vince Beltrami, 51.90% to 47.57%.[9] Giessel again campaigned on positions strongly supporting natural resource development, diversified economic development, right-sizing Alaska state government, the creation of a comprehensive plan to the state government's budget challenges, and again supported more school choice options for parents of K-12 students. Due to the continued budget shortfall, further reductions in state spending continued as a top priority for the new senate majority caucus. Other priorities of the caucus are plans to implement a state spending limit into law and review of formula driven programs to make additional reforms to the state's most costly programs to get the state budget under control.

Committee assignments

  • Resources (chair)
  • Special Committee on Arctic Policy (chair)
  • Health and Social Services
  • State Affairs
  • Education
  • Legislative Budget and Audit
  • Legislative Council (alternate)
  • Finance Subcommittee
    • Environmental Conservation
    • Health & Social Services
    • Natural Resources

Caucus memberships

  • In-state Gas Caucus
  • Outdoor Heritage Caucus

2014: Senate District N election

Though elected in 2012 following redistricting, a challenge to the newly drawn districts caused Giessel to be up for reelection again in 2014. Giessel won the November general election, defeating Democratic challenger Harry Crawford Jr., 54.7% to 44.97%.[10] This time Giessel was elected to a 2-year seat that would be up again for reelection in 2016. Giessel campaigned on the position of pro natural resource development, in-state gasline development, diversified economic development and supported more school choice options for parents of K-12 students. Due to the sharp fall of oil prices and Alaska's ensuing fiscal gap in 2015, the budget and curbing state spending became top priorities for the new senate majority caucus. Education funding was another top priority for the caucus as well.[11]

Committee assignments

  • Resources (chair)
  • Special Committee on Arctic Policy (co-chair)
  • Health and Social Services (vice-chair)
  • Labor and Commerce (vice-chair)
  • Education
  • Legislative Budget and Audit
  • Finance Subcommittee
    • Environmental Conservation
    • Health & Social Services
    • Natural Resources

Caucus memberships

  • In-state Gas Caucus
  • Outdoor Heritage Caucus

2012: Senate District N election

Giessel (left) being sworn in at the opening of the 28th Alaska State Legislature. Alaska legislators are typically sworn in on opening day in groups of five; to Giessel's left are Anna Fairclough, Kevin Meyer, Peter Micciche and Lesil McGuire.

Though elected in 2010 to serve a four-year term, redistricting led to her being up for election again in 2012 for a new senate seat serving District N.[12] In the August Republican primary, Giessel defeated challenger Joe Arness by 67%.[13] She won the November general election, defeating Independent Ron Devon, the husband of Mudflats author Jeanne Devon, 58.8% to 40.7%.[14] She campaigned on the position of pro natural resource development, in-state gasline development, increased economic development, and oil tax reform.[15] Increasing oil production through oil tax reform was a decisive issue during the 2012 election and became top priority for the new senate majority caucus that was formed subsequently.[16]

Giessel was appointed to chair the Senate Resources committee which moved Governor Parnell's oil tax reform legislation and advanced the Alaska Stand-Alone Pipeline project.

Committee assignments

Giessel (center) with John Coghill (left) and Peter Micciche (right) during a Resources committee meeting in February, 2015.
  • Resources (chair)
  • Community and Regional Affairs (vice-chair)
  • State Affairs (vice-chair)
  • Administrative Regulatory Review (vice-chair)
  • Legislative Budget and Audit
  • Legislative Ethics
  • Alaska Arctic Policy Commission
  • Finance Subcommittee
    • Environmental Conservation
    • Natural Resources
    • Labor & Workforce Development

Caucus memberships

  • In-state Gas Caucus
  • Outdoor Heritage Caucus

2010: Senate District P election

Giessel ran for the Senate District P seat in 2010 when Republican incumbent Con Bunde retired after 18 years in the legislature, the last eight in the Senate. She faced two moderates in her party primary: Anchorage assemblywoman Jennifer Johnston and cardiologist Mark Moronell. Taking advantage of the split in the moderate vote she won her party's nomination for the general election – 46% over 28% for Moronell and 25% for Johnston.[7] The Alaska Dispatch, referred to the district election "as [what seems to be] the most important legislative race this year." Giessel identified herself with Tea Party ideals but did not consider herself a Tea Party candidate.[7] In the November election, she beat Democrat Janet Reiser and independent conservative Phil Dziubinski 49% to 39% and 12% respectively.[17] Dziubinski, who had recently retired from a career working for BP, spent over $150,000 of his own money on his campaign.

During her freshman term, Giessel served on the Senate committees on labor & commerce, state affairs, the finance subcommittee on the legislature, and was a member of the Joint In-State Gas Caucus. She aligned herself with the 'Senate Minority' caucus: a grouping of Republican senators who rejected the dominant bipartisan 'Senate Majority' caucus.[6]

Committee assignments

  • Senate Committee on Labor and Commerce
  • Senate Committee on State Affairs
  • Senate Finance subcommittee on the Legislature

Caucus memberships

  • Joint Legislative In-State Gas Caucus
  • Joint Legislative Outdoor Heritage Caucus
  • Anchorage Caucus

Political positions

Alaska Mining Day bill signing ceremony: Giessel with Governor Sean Parnell, Senate President Charlie Huggins, Micciche, Donald Olson and mining industry representatives.

In a 2010 response to a questionnaire sent by the Alaska Family Action group, Giessel conveyed pro-life viewpoints, constitutional limits on benefits for same-sex couples and legislative blocks on the expansion of gambling excepting a referendum. Since then however, Senator Giessel has joined Democrats in opposition to any policies seaking to reduce or eliminate abortion.[18]

In the 2011 mid-term Alaska Business Report Card (a grading system run by several Alaska business coalitions judging state officials on how favorable they are to the business community) Giessel received an A+, the only senator to receive the highest grade, and only one of five state legislators in both houses.[19]

National involvement

In 2013, Giessel was appointed to chair the Energy Producing States Coalition (EPSC), a bipartisan group of legislators across 10 states that focuses on energy and transmission development issues. Following a decision by the Interior Department to withhold $110 million in federal mineral revenue sharing payments because of sequestration, the EPSC issued a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee leadership denouncing the act, which Giessel signed on to.[20]

Personal life

Giessel is married to Richard and has three children and several grandchildren.[5] She is a member of both the National Rifle Association of America – which has endorsed her run for re-election[21] and the Second Amendment Sisters.[6] She received the Anchorage Republican Woman of the Year award in 2007.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b The 1970 Cache (Lathrop High School yearbook), p. 31
  2. ^ "Defendant – Summary (3AN-04-07749MO Municipality of Anchorage vs. Giessel, Catherine A)". CourtView. Alaska Court System. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  3. ^ "Sen. Giessel - Senate Majority Homepage". alaskasenate.org. Senate Majority Press. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  4. ^ a b State of Alaska Official Election Pamphlet (Pamphlet III ed.). Juneau, Alaska: Office of the Alaska Lieutenant Governor. 1992. p. 35.
  5. ^ a b c d "CG: Biography". cathygiessel.com. Cathy Giessel. Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved 22 Aug 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Senator Cathy Giessel". The Republican Senate Caucus. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved 22 Aug 2011.
  7. ^ a b c Epler, Patti (September 13, 2011). "A three-way battle for the Anchorage Hillside". Anchorage, Alaska: Alaska Dispatch. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  8. ^ "Hot Seats: Vince Beltrami and Cathy Giessel for Senate District N | KTVA 11". Archived from the original on December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  9. ^ http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/16GENR/data/results.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  10. ^ 2014 General Election. elections.alaska.gov (Report). State of Alaska, Division of Elections. November 25, 2014. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  11. ^ DeMarban, Alex (January 15, 2015). "Senate leader proposes cutting municipal revenue sharing, other programs". Alaska Dispatch News. Anchorage, Alaska. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  12. ^ Dischner, Molly (June 15, 2011). "New lines drawn: Redistricting board designates seats up for re-election". Peninsula Clarion. Kenai, Alaska. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  13. ^ "Alaska 2012 Primary Election Official Results". elections.alaska.gov. State of Alaska, Division of Elections. September 17, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  14. ^ "Alaska 2012 General Election Official Results". elections.alaska.gov. State of Alaska, Division of Elections. November 28, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  15. ^ Giessel, Cathy (October 31, 2012). "Cathy Giessel, Senate District N: Got jobs, Alaska?". Peninsula Clarion. Kenai, Alaska. Archived from the original on July 6, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  16. ^ Huggins, Charlie (January 30, 2013). "Compass: Oil production tops Alaska Senate's list". Alaska Dispatch News. Anchorage, Alaska: Alaska Dispatch. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  17. ^ "Republicans gaining in Alaska House". The Arctic Sounder. November 3, 2011. Archived from the original on October 3, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  18. ^ "2010 Values Voter Guide" (PDF). akfamily.org. Alaska Family Action. Retrieved August 22, 2011.[dead link]
  19. ^ "2011 midterm Alaska Business Report Card". Alaska Business Report Card. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  20. ^ Streater, Scott (April 11, 2013). "State lawmakers blast Interior for cutting federal mineral revenue payments". Environment and Energy Publishing. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016.(subscription required)
  21. ^ "CG: Endorsements". cathygiessel.com. Cathy Giessel. Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2011.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by President of the Alaska Senate
2019–2021 		Succeeded by
Alaska Senate
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Alaska Senate
2023–present 		Incumbent
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathy_Giessel