Mary Nelson
Encyclopedia
Mary K. Sattler is a Democratic
politician in the U.S. state of Alaska
, best known for serving five terms in the Alaska House of Representatives
. Sattler represented the 39th District, and following redistricting
the 38th District, which were centered around the community of Bethel
, from 1999 to 2009. Outside of politics, she has pursued careers in health care, journalism and public relations.
Sattler is the second of eleven children of Ward Sattler (born December 1, 1940), who was a bush pilot and school teacher based in Bethel for several decades. He was also an early staff member of Alaska's at-large representative in the U.S. House, Don Young
. Ward Sattler twice ran as a Republican
for the 6th District House seat, challenging Democratic incumbent Woodie Salmon
. The first time, in 2004, he ran as a Republican while his daughter ran for reelection to her House seat as a Democrat. Salmon lost his relection bid in 2010 to Alan S. Dick, who like Ward Sattler is a Republican, former educator and resident of the Stony River
drainage.
Sattler was originally elected in 1998, having defeated incumbent Ivan Martin Ivan of Akiak
in the Democratic primary
. Ivan served three non-consecutive terms, which were intertwined with the transition of Lyman Hoffman
from the House to the Alaska Senate
. Sattler appeared on the ballot in her first election under her maiden name, though she was at that point already married to Jonathan Kapsner. She was elected and reelected mostly without or with only minimal opposition, with Ivan's return to challenge her in the 2002 primary the closest contest she faced.
She was the youngest member of the Alaska House until the 2006 election of Scott Kawasaki
During her tenure in the House, she was mostly known by the married name Mary Kapsner. In the latter part of her House tenure, she married Joe Nelson and became known as Mary Nelson. Joe Nelson is director of admissions at the University of Alaska Southeast
, and in 2009 was one of then-governor Sarah Palin
's unconfirmed appointees to replace Juneau's state senator Kim Elton, who resigned from his Senate seat to take a position in the Obama administration. That Senate seat would eventually be filled by Dennis Egan
.
Sattler has since reverted back to going by her maiden name. Since leaving the House, she has worked as the spokesperson for the effort to develop the Donlin Creek Mine. Sattler was elected to the Bethel city council in 2011.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician in 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...
, best known for serving five terms in 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...
. Sattler represented the 39th District, and following redistricting
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
the 38th District, which were centered around the community of Bethel
Bethel, Alaska
Bethel is a city located near the west coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, west of Anchorage. Accessible only by air and river, Bethel is the main port on the Kuskokwim River and is an administrative and transportation hub for the 56 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.Bethel is the largest...
, from 1999 to 2009. Outside of politics, she has pursued careers in health care, journalism and public relations.
Sattler is the second of eleven children of Ward Sattler (born December 1, 1940), who was a bush pilot and school teacher based in Bethel for several decades. He was also an early staff member of Alaska's at-large representative in the U.S. House, 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...
. Ward Sattler twice ran as 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...
for the 6th District House seat, challenging Democratic incumbent Woodie Salmon
Woodie Salmon
Woodie W. Salmon was a Democratic member of the Alaska House of Representatives, representing the 6th District from 2005 to 2011. Salmon was defeated for re-election by Republican Alan S. Dick in the 2010 election...
. The first time, in 2004, he ran as a Republican while his daughter ran for reelection to her House seat as a Democrat. Salmon lost his relection bid in 2010 to Alan S. Dick, who like Ward Sattler is a Republican, former educator and resident of the Stony River
Stony River (Alaska)
The Stony River is a river in southwest Alaska. It lends its name to Stony River, Alaska, a village with a population of 61. The river meanders westward from the Mount Mausolus area until it meets the Kuskokwim River at the community of Stony River....
drainage.
Sattler was originally elected in 1998, having defeated incumbent Ivan Martin Ivan of Akiak
Akiak, Alaska
Akiak is a city in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 309 at the 2000 census....
in the Democratic primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. Ivan served three non-consecutive terms, which were intertwined with the transition of Lyman Hoffman
Lyman Hoffman
Lyman F. Hoffman is a Democratic member of the Alaska Senate, representing the S district since 1995, and from 1991 through 1992 previously. He was a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1986 through 1990, and from 1993 through 1994....
from the House to 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...
. Sattler appeared on the ballot in her first election under her maiden name, though she was at that point already married to Jonathan Kapsner. She was elected and reelected mostly without or with only minimal opposition, with Ivan's return to challenge her in the 2002 primary the closest contest she faced.
She was the youngest member of the Alaska House until the 2006 election of Scott Kawasaki
Scott Kawasaki
Scott Jiu Wo Kawasaki is a healthcare professional and politician from Alaska. A Democrat, he is a member of the Alaska House of Representatives representing the state's ninth district, which includes neighborhoods within the city limits of Fairbanks.- Biography :Scott Kawasaki was born in Tokyo,...
During her tenure in the House, she was mostly known by the married name Mary Kapsner. In the latter part of her House tenure, she married Joe Nelson and became known as Mary Nelson. Joe Nelson is director of admissions at the University of Alaska Southeast
University of Alaska Southeast
The University of Alaska Southeast is a regional university in the University of Alaska System. Its main campus is located in Juneau and it has extended campuses in Sitka and Ketchikan....
, and in 2009 was one of then-governor Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
's unconfirmed appointees to replace Juneau's state senator Kim Elton, who resigned from his Senate seat to take a position in the Obama administration. That Senate seat would eventually be filled by Dennis Egan
Dennis Egan
Dennis William Egan is a member of the Alaska Senate, representing Juneau, Alaska. He previously served as its mayor from February 13, 1995, to October 3, 2000 and was a member of the local assembly...
.
Sattler has since reverted back to going by her maiden name. Since leaving the House, she has worked as the spokesperson for the effort to develop the Donlin Creek Mine. Sattler was elected to the Bethel city council in 2011.
External links
- Alaska State Legislature - Representative Mary Nelson official government website
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Mary Nelson (AK) profile
- Follow the Money - Mary Sattler Kapsner
- Alaska's Democratic Caucus - Mary Nelson profile
- Facebook Facebook page