Lesil McGuire
Encyclopedia
Lesil McGuire is an American politician in the state of Alaska
. As of 2009, she is a Republican
member of the Alaska Senate
, representing the N District, taking office in 2007 immediately after her tenure as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from 2000 through 2006.
, on January 22, 1971, before her family moved to Alaska
in 1973. She attended Willamette University
in Salem, Oregon
beginning in 1989, where she majored in both political science and speech. She also served two years as an intern and press aide for Senator Ted Stevens
of Alaska before graduating in 1993 with a Bachelors of Arts degree. After college she attended law school at Willamette University College of Law
, graduating with a juris doctorate in 1998. In law school she worked for Willamette Law Review
, the school's legal journal. After graduation, she returned to Alaska and clerked briefly for Birch Horton Bittner & Cherot before taking a position as an aide to the Alaska State House Judiciary Committee.
, who was elected to the Alaska State Senate. She served in the House as a moderate Republican until 2006 when she was elected to the Alaska State Senate, continuing to serve as a moderate Republican. She is currently the youngest member of the currently-serving Alaska State Senate. She is also the newest president of PNWER, in addition to her duties with the state. She is also active with CSG, otherwise known as the Council of State Governments
, having served as the past chair of the Western Region.
and renewable energy
development in Alaska
, informing the public of distribution of ARRA
funds in Alaska, children's issues, and other topics. See below for bill sponsorships and co-sponsorships.
During this 2009 legislative session she serves on the following committees (chairmanship is noted):
CHAIR: SENATE ENERGY
CHAIR: SENATE WORLD TRADE, TECH, INNOVATIONS
CO-CHAIR: SENATE RESOURCES
Member: SENATE JUDICIARY
Member: SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
Member: SENATE JOINT COOK INLET SALMON TASK FORCE
Member: SENATE Finance Subcommittee HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
Member: SENATE Finance Subcommittee NATURAL RESOURCES
Member: SENATE Finance Subcommittee PUBLIC SAFETY
Member: SENATE Finance Subcommittee REVENUE
As of March 10, 2009, she is the prime sponsor of the following bills:
As of March 10, 2009, she is co-sponsor of the following bills:
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...
. As of 2009, she is a Republican
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...
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 the N District, taking office in 2007 immediately after her tenure as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives
Alaska House of Representatives
The Alaska House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of about 15,673 people . Members serve two-year terms without term limits...
from 2000 through 2006.
Early years
McGuire was born in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, on January 22, 1971, before her family moved to 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...
in 1973. She attended Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
beginning in 1989, where she majored in both political science and speech. She also served two years as an intern and press aide for Senator Ted Stevens
Ted Stevens
Theodore Fulton "Ted" Stevens, Sr. was a United States Senator from Alaska, serving from December 24, 1968, until January 3, 2009, and thus the longest-serving Republican senator in history...
of Alaska before graduating in 1993 with a Bachelors of Arts degree. After college she attended law school at Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
, graduating with a juris doctorate in 1998. In law school she worked for Willamette Law Review
Willamette Law Review
The Willamette Law Review is a law review academic journal published by Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1959 as a predecessor to an earlier publication, the quarterly publication is housed in the Oregon Civic Justice Center. Cited as Willamette L...
, the school's legal journal. After graduation, she returned to Alaska and clerked briefly for Birch Horton Bittner & Cherot before taking a position as an aide to the Alaska State House Judiciary Committee.
Political career
In 2000, at the age of 29, she won election to the Alaska House of Representatives to replace John CowderyJohn Cowdery
John Cowdery is a Republican member of the Alaska Senate, representing the O District since 2001. He was previously a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1982 through 1984, and from 1997 through 2000.-External links:...
, who was elected to the Alaska State Senate. She served in the House as a moderate Republican until 2006 when she was elected to the Alaska State Senate, continuing to serve as a moderate Republican. She is currently the youngest member of the currently-serving Alaska State Senate. She is also the newest president of PNWER, in addition to her duties with the state. She is also active with CSG, otherwise known as the Council of State Governments
Council of State Governments
The Council of State Governments is a nonpartisan non-profit organization in the United States serving the state governments. It serves state legislatures, state courts, and executive branch officials and agencies, and is the only multi-branch organization of state governments in the United...
, having served as the past chair of the Western Region.
2009 Session Priorities
Senator McGuire's priorities during the 2009 session appear to feature a very high priority on alternative energyAlternative energy
Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels....
and renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
development in 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...
, informing the public of distribution of ARRA
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
funds in Alaska, children's issues, and other topics. See below for bill sponsorships and co-sponsorships.
During this 2009 legislative session she serves on the following committees (chairmanship is noted):
CHAIR: SENATE ENERGY
CHAIR: SENATE WORLD TRADE, TECH, INNOVATIONS
CO-CHAIR: SENATE RESOURCES
Member: SENATE JUDICIARY
Member: SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
Member: SENATE JOINT COOK INLET SALMON TASK FORCE
Member: SENATE Finance Subcommittee HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
Member: SENATE Finance Subcommittee NATURAL RESOURCES
Member: SENATE Finance Subcommittee PUBLIC SAFETY
Member: SENATE Finance Subcommittee REVENUE
As of March 10, 2009, she is the prime sponsor of the following bills:
- SB 31 GEOTHERMAL ELEC. PROD. TAX CREDIT
- SB 49 BLOOD DONATION AWARENESS FUND
- SB 60 UNIFORM PROBATE CODE; TRUSTS, WILLS
- SB 62 COMMUNITY PROPERTY OF MARRIED PERSONS
- SB 63 TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS ON TRUSTS
- SB 79 MED BENEFITS OF DISABLED PEACE OFFICERS
- SB 117 PRICE OF CIGARETTES
- SB 118 MEDICAID: TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY SERVICES
- SB 130 ECONOMIC STIMULUS TASK FORCE
- SB 131 NET ENERGY METERING
- SB 145 SEX OFFENDER MANAGEMENT BOARD
- SCR 1 BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH: MARCH 2009
As of March 10, 2009, she is co-sponsor of the following bills:
- HCR 2 IN-STATE GAS PIPELINE, sponsored by REP RAMRAS
- HCR 3 IN-STATE GAS PIPELINE, sponsored by REP RAMRAS
- HCR 4 IN-STATE GAS PIPELINE, sponsored by REP RAMRAS
- HCR 5 IN-STATE GAS PIPELINE, sponsored by REP RAMRAS
- HJR 17 OPPOSE H.R. 45 IN CONGRESS, sponsored by REP HARRIS
- SB 23 REPEAL DEFINED CONTRIB RETIREMENT PLANS, sponsored by SEN ELTON
- SB 33 POSTSECONDARY SCHOLARSHIPS, sponsored by SEN ELLIS
- SB 102 RAISE COMP. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AGE/TRUANCY, sponsored by SEN DAVIS
- SB 138 TAX CREDIT FOR STATE TOURISM PROGRAM, sponsored by SEN MEYER
- SJR 6 OPPOSE H.R. 45 IN CONGRESS, sponsored by SEN THERRIAULT
External links
- Alaska State Legislature – Senator Lesil McGuire
- Project Vote Smart – Senator Lesil McGuire (AK) profile
- Follow the Money – Lesil McGuire: 2006 campaign contributions
- Bipartisan Working Group Website
- Alaska Brain Injury Network
- Special Olympics Alaska
- Senator Lesil McGuire's Twitter Feed
- Lesil McGuire for State Senate Facebook Page