Cathy Giessel
Encyclopedia
Catherine A. "Cathy" Giessel, (née Bohms; born November 9, 1951) is a Republican
politician from the U.S. state of Alaska
. Giessel currently serves as a member of the Alaska Senate
representing District P, which covers portions of Anchorage and Eagle River near to Chugach State Park
, eastern and southern reaches of the Anchorage Hillside, and the Turnagain Arm communities of Girdwood and Hope
as well as Whittier
. First elected in 2010 while self-identified with Tea Party
values, she has also served as the vice-chair of the state Republican Party
, held a career in nursing and operates a healthcare consultancy business. Owing to redistricting, she is standing for reelection in 2012.
- while her mother Ruth holds a degree from Gonzaga University School of Law
and admitted both before the bars of Alaska and the United States Supreme Court. Ruth Bohms was herself a candidate for a state Senate seat in the 1990s, running under the banner of the Alaskan Independence Party
. Giessel graduated from Lathrop High School
in Fairbanks
and thereafter gained a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Michigan
before moving to Anchorage in 1974.
She performs as an advanced nurse practitioner across a variety of clinics in Anchorage and the North Slope Borough as well as owning a healthcare consultancy business, and gained a master's degree in nursing from the University of Alaska Anchorage
in 2000. She has been on the Alaska Board of Nursing, serving five years as its chairperson, and also on the Alaska Healthcare Strategy Planning Council. In 2010, she was named an 'exceptional leader' by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
. At the time she was vice-chair of the party, but the campaign failed and she stepped down from her position that year. She was also on Sean Parnell
's campaign team during his attempt to oust Republican Don Young
from his hold of Alaska's congressional seat
in 2008
.
Giessel sought to win Senate District P in 2010 when incumbent Republican Con Bunde decided to retire, and 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, and possibly capitalizing on increased turnout on a parental notification initiative that she had lent her activism to, she won her party's nomination for the general election - 46% over 28% for Moronell and 25% for Johnston.
In 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. The Alaska Dispatch, which also referred to the district election 'as [what seems to be] the most important legislative race this year', said she identifies with Tea Party
ideals but does not consider herself a Tea Party candidate. Come November, she beat Democrat Janet Reiser and independent conservative Phil Dziubinski 49% to 39% and 12% respectively.
Giessel has gained membership on the Senate committees on labour & commerce, state affairs, the finance subcommittee on the legislature, and she is also on the Joint In-State Gas Caucus.
Despite being elected in 2010 to serve a four-year term, subsequent redistricting has meant Giessel will now be facing a fresh election in 2012, for which she is standing - her new seat being District N.
- which has endorsed her run for re-election - and the Second Amendment Sisters
. She received the Anchorage Republican Woman of the Year award in 2007.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician from the U.S. state of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. Giessel currently serves as a member of the Alaska Senate
Alaska Senate
The Alaska Senate is the upper house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The Senate consists of twenty members, each of whom represents an equal amount of districts with populations of about 31,347 people . Senators serve four-year terms, without term...
representing District P, which covers portions of Anchorage and Eagle River near to Chugach State Park
Chugach State Park
Chugach State Park is a 495,204-acre state park in the Municipality of Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska. Located in the Chugach Mountains just east of the Anchorage Bowl, it is a very popular recreation destination...
, eastern and southern reaches of the Anchorage Hillside, and the Turnagain Arm communities of Girdwood and Hope
Hope, Alaska
Hope is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census the population was 137.-Geography:Hope is located at...
as well as Whittier
Whittier, Alaska
Whittier is a city in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area, in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of 2006, the population was 177. The city is also a port for the Alaska Marine Highway.-Geography:...
. First elected in 2010 while self-identified with Tea Party
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
values, she has also served as the vice-chair of the state Republican Party
Republican Party of Alaska
The Republican Party of Alaska is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Alaska, headquartered in Anchorage.It is the dominant or majority party in Alaska. Following the elections of 2008, Republicans hold the following statewide executive offices:*Governor*Lt...
, held a career in nursing and operates a healthcare consultancy business. Owing to redistricting, she is standing for reelection in 2012.
Early life and career
Giessel's father, Jerry Bohms, moved to Alaska in the late 1940s and worked for Wien Alaska Airlines - a predecessor to Wien Air AlaskaWien Air Alaska
Wien Air Alaska was formed from Northern Consolidated Airlines and Wien Alaska Airways. The company was famous for being the first airline in Alaska, and one of the first in the United States.-History:...
- while her mother Ruth holds a degree from Gonzaga University School of Law
Gonzaga University School of Law
The Gonzaga University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, USA. Established in 1912, the law school is viewed as a strong institution in the Pacific Northwest, and is the only law school in the State of Washington...
and admitted both before the bars of Alaska and the United States Supreme Court. Ruth Bohms was herself a candidate for a state Senate seat in the 1990s, running under the banner of the Alaskan Independence Party
Alaskan Independence Party
The Alaskan Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of Alaska that advocates an in-state referendum which includes the option of Alaska becoming an independent country...
. Giessel graduated from Lathrop High School
Lathrop High School
Lathrop High School is a public high school in Fairbanks in the U.S. State of Alaska, part of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. It is named for early Alaska businessman Austin E. "Cap" Lathrop. Lathrop is the largest high school in Fairbanks....
in Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
and thereafter gained a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
before moving to Anchorage in 1974.
She performs as an advanced nurse practitioner across a variety of clinics in Anchorage and the North Slope Borough as well as owning a healthcare consultancy business, and gained a master's degree in nursing from the University of Alaska Anchorage
University of Alaska Anchorage
The University of Alaska Anchorage is the largest school of the University of Alaska System, with about 16,500 students, about 14,000 of whom attend classes at Goose Lake, its main campus in Anchorage....
in 2000. She has been on the Alaska Board of Nursing, serving five years as its chairperson, and also on the Alaska Healthcare Strategy Planning Council. In 2010, she was named an 'exceptional leader' by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Politics
Before gaining her Senate seat, Giessel became the focus in 2008 of a campaign by Joe Miller to elevate her to the chair of the Republican Party of AlaskaRepublican Party of Alaska
The Republican Party of Alaska is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Alaska, headquartered in Anchorage.It is the dominant or majority party in Alaska. Following the elections of 2008, Republicans hold the following statewide executive offices:*Governor*Lt...
. At the time she was vice-chair of the party, but the campaign failed and she stepped down from her position that year. She was also on Sean Parnell
Sean Parnell
Sean R. Parnell is an American Republican politician who is the tenth and current Governor of Alaska. He succeeded Sarah Palin following her resignation, and was sworn in at the Governor's Picnic in Fairbanks on July 26, 2009...
's campaign team during his attempt to oust Republican Don Young
Don Young
Donald Edwin "Don" Young is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1973. He is a member of the Republican Party.Young is the 6th most senior U.S. Representative and the 2nd most senior Republican Representative, as well as the 2nd most senior Republican in Congress as a whole...
from his hold of Alaska's congressional seat
Alaska's At-large congressional district
Alaska's At-large congressional district comprises the entire state of Alaska. This congressional district has the largest land area and lowest population density of any district in the United States...
in 2008
United States House of Representatives election in Alaska, 2008
The 2008 congressional election in Alaska was held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Alaska in the United States House of Representatives. Alaska has one seat in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census...
.
Giessel sought to win Senate District P in 2010 when incumbent Republican Con Bunde decided to retire, and 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, and possibly capitalizing on increased turnout on a parental notification initiative that she had lent her activism to, she won her party's nomination for the general election - 46% over 28% for Moronell and 25% for Johnston.
In 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. The Alaska Dispatch, which also referred to the district election 'as [what seems to be] the most important legislative race this year', said she identifies with Tea Party
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
ideals but does not consider herself a Tea Party candidate. Come November, she beat Democrat Janet Reiser and independent conservative Phil Dziubinski 49% to 39% and 12% respectively.
Giessel has gained membership on the Senate committees on labour & commerce, state affairs, the finance subcommittee on the legislature, and she is also on the Joint In-State Gas Caucus.
Despite being elected in 2010 to serve a four-year term, subsequent redistricting has meant Giessel will now be facing a fresh election in 2012, for which she is standing - her new seat being District N.
Personal life
Giessel is married to Richard and has three children and several grandchildren. She is a member of both the National Rifle AssociationNational Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
- which has endorsed her run for re-election - and the Second Amendment Sisters
Second Amendment Sisters
Second Amendment Sisters, Inc. is a non-partisan women's advocacy group in the United States dedicated to the protection of gun rights, specifically for the purpose of self defense...
. She received the Anchorage Republican Woman of the Year award in 2007.