Louise Ball Stutes (born July 30, 1952) is an American politician from
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
. A
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
, Stutes is a member of the
Alaska House of Representatives
The Alaska State 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 approximately 17,756 people per ...
, representing House District 32 on
Kodiak Island
Kodiak Island (Alutiiq: ''Qikertaq''), is a large island on the south coast of the U.S. state of Alaska, separated from the Alaska mainland by the Shelikof Strait. The largest island in the Kodiak Archipelago, Kodiak Island is the second larges ...
since 2015, and has served as
Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives since 2021.
Career
Stutes previously served on the Assembly of the
Kodiak Island Borough
Kodiak Island Borough (russian: Остров Кадьяк) is a borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. At the 2020 census, the population was 13,101,
down from 13,592 in 2010. The borough seat is Kodiak.
Geography
The borough has a total are ...
from 2006 to 2013.
As a candidate for the House of Representatives, she was an advocate for the
commercial fishing industry and the
Alaska Marine Highway
The Alaska Marine Highway (AMH) or the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is a ferry service operated by the U.S. state of Alaska. It has its headquarters in Ketchikan, Alaska.
The Alaska Marine Highway System operates along the south-central ...
.
Stutes defeated primary opponent Carol Austerman, daughter of retiring incumbent
Alan Austerman
Alan David Austerman (born May 23, 1943) is an American politician who served as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives and Alaska Senate.
Early life and education
Austerman was born in Everett, Washington. He graduated from Kodiak ...
, in August 2014 and went on to beat Jerry McCune of
Cordova, the
Democratic nominee, in November to win a seat in the legislature.
In 2021, Stutes was elected speaker of the house by a bipartisan, primarily Democratic coalition, succeeding acting speaker and temporary speaker pro tempore
Josiah Patkotak
Josiah Aullaqsruaq Patkotak (born March 22, 1994) is an Iñupiaq politician from Alaska. He has represented District 40 as a Member of the Alaska House of Representatives since 2021. Patkotak defeated another Iñupiaq candidate, Elizabeth Niiqs ...
, who had succeeded former speaker
Bryce Edgmon
Bryce Edgmon (born May 3, 1961) is a member of the Alaska House of Representatives, representing the 37th District since 2006. He served as speaker from 2017–2021. The district includes all or portions of the Kodiak Island Borough, Aleutians ...
at the conclusion of the previous session.
Personal life
Stutes has lived in Kodiak since 1980. Her husband, Stormy, is a commercial fisherman. She has four children. She owned the Village Bar on Kodiak Island for 25 years.
References
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stutes, Louise
21st-century American politicians
21st-century American women politicians
Living people
People from Kodiak, Alaska
Speakers of the Alaska House of Representatives
Republican Party members of the Alaska House of Representatives
Women state legislators in Alaska
Women legislative speakers
1952 births