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 ...

. 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 la ...

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 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