Staci Appel

Staci Lynn Appel (born April 19, 1966) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Iowa. She served in the Iowa Senate as the Assistant Majority Leader from 2007 to 2011 representing the 37th district. A Democrat, in 2014 she unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives for Iowa's 3rd congressional district.[1]

Staci Appel
Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 37th district
In office
January 8, 2007 – January 10, 2011
Preceded byDoug Shull
Succeeded byKent Sorenson
Personal details
Born (1966-04-19) April 19, 1966
Waterloo, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBrent R. Appel
Children6
Residence(s)Ackworth, Iowa, U.S.

Early life

Appel was born in Waterloo, Iowa. She grew up in Iowa City, Iowa, and attended Iowa City West High School.[2][3][4]

Career

Appel worked for 12 years as a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch and UBS Paine Webber.[4]

Appel served on several committees in the Iowa Senate: the Agriculture committee; the State Government committee; the Ways and Means committee; and the Education committee, where she was vice chair. She also served as vice chair of the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee.

Appel was elected in 2006 with 12,827 votes (50%), defeating Republican opponent Julian B. Garrett by 772 votes.[5]

Appel's first bill in the Senate was a proposal to raise the minimum wage in Iowa to $7.25.[6] During her time in the State Senate Appel favored the Equal Pay For Equal Work Act[7][8]

As a member of the Iowa Senate, Appel was appointed Assistant Majority Leader.

Appel lost her bid for reelection to state Representative Kent Sorenson in 2010,[9] 58% to 40%.[10][11]

Political positions

Appel is pro-choice and supports same-sex marriage. She has stated her support for the Affordable Care Act and would not repeal it. Appel endorsed Senator Tom Harkin's proposal to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. On immigration, she has stated her support for increased border security and a pathway for citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States. On gun rights, Appel has stated that the gun-show loophole should be closed and that background checks should be required wherever a gun is purchased. On foreign policy, she has stated her opposition to Russia's incursions into Ukraine, though noted that "she said she doesn't hear Iowans talking much about foreign policy."[12]

2014 congressional election
Appel and her husband, Brent R. Appel.
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa, 2014 § District 3

Appel ran for an open congressional seat in Iowa's 3rd congressional district. Incumbent congressman Tom Latham retired.[13] She initially stated she would run for the seat, before announcing that she would not run, citing family obligations, then reversing her decision again to commit to the race.[14] She faced Republican nominee David Young in the general election.[15] David Young won the election with 52.8% of the vote to Appel's 42.2%.[16]

Appel was endorsed by EMILY's List,[17] a political action committee that supports pro-choice female Democrats, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.[18] The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added her to their jumpstart program, which provides financial support. Stuart Rothenberg of Roll Call rated the race a "Pure Toss Up".[19]

In May 2014, a Republican spokesperson accused Appel of plagiarizing text from another candidate's website, something her campaign manager said he takes responsibility for.[20]

Personal life

Appel's husband, Brent R. Appel, serves on the Iowa Supreme Court. The Appels live with their six children in Ackworth, Iowa.[4][9]

References
  1. Voorhees, Josh (August 12, 2013). "Hillary-Iowa: Iowa has never elected a female governor, senator or house member". Slate.com. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  2. "Staci Appel – Iowa State Senate, Iowa City". Yatedo.com. October 5, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  3. "2014 Primary Election". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  4. Petroski, William (June 2, 2014). "Staci Appel says she'll represent middle class in Congress". Des Moines Register. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  5. Official Results. 2006 General Elections, State of Iowa, November 26, 2006
  6. Morin, Rebecca (June 25, 2014). "Minimum-wage battle heats up". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  7. "N. Warren Town and County News July 18, 2013 Page11". Cwa.stparchive.com. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  8. Petroski, William (August 14, 2014). "Register Soapbox: Appel backs minimum wage hike, pay equity". Des Moines Register. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  9. Jacobs, Jennifer (July 8, 2013). "In video, Democrat Staci Appel says she'd 'get things done' in Congress". Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  10. http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2010/stsenorr.pdf
  11. Petroski, William (June 4, 2014). "Iowa's 3rd Congressional District GOP race heads to convention". Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on June 5, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  12. Petroski, William (June 2, 2014). "Staci Appel says she'll represent middle class in Congress". Des Moines Register. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  13. AP (July 8, 2013). "Former Iowa Sen. Staci Appel to run for Congress". KIMT. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  14. Cahn, Emily (July 8, 2013). "Democratic Recruit Files to Challenge Latham #IA03". Roll Call. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  15. Petroski, William (June 21, 2014). "David Young wins 3rd District GOP nomination in stunning upset". Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  16. "2014 General Election Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  17. Noble, Jason (July 22, 2013). "Congressional candidate Staci Appel wins Emily's List recognition". Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  18. Petroski, William (July 23, 2013). "Iowa AFSCME, representing 40,000 public employees, backs Pat Murphy for 1st District Congress; Staci Appel for 3rd District Congress". Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  19. Gonzales, Nathan (December 8, 2013). "Open 3rd District Gives Democrats Opportunity in Iowa". The Rothenburg Political Report. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  20. Petroski, William (May 5, 2014). "GOP spokesman says Staci Appel plagiarized Illinois Democratic website". Des Moines Register. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
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