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Mark S. Gietzen
Gietzen in 2011
Born
Mark Stewart Gietzen

(1954-02-09)February 9, 1954
DiedMay 14, 2023(2023-05-14) (aged 69)
Chambers, Nebraska, U.S.
Resting placeSt. Clement's Cemetery 46°56′31.7″N 101°52′49.7″W / 46.942139°N 101.880472°W / 46.942139; -101.880472 (Haymarsh, West Morton, North Dakota), U.S.
Nationality
  • American
Children3

Mark Stewart Gietzen (February 9, 1954 – May 14, 2023) was an American conservative political activist, notable for his start as an anti-abortion campaigner. He lived in Wichita, Kansas, United States. He was the chairman and founder of the group Kansas Coalition for Life. From 2004 to his death in 2023, he served continuously as the elected President of The Kansas Republican Assembly, a state affiliate of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies.

Anti-abortion activities

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Gietzen was the chairman of the Kansas Coalition for Life.[1][2] One of the major projects of this organization was to place crosses each day on public property in front of George Tiller's late-term abortion facility in Wichita.[3][4][5] As part of this project, anti-abortion activists were present on public property in front of the facility whenever it was open for business.[6][7] Gietzen had protested the facility since 1978.[8] Gietzen was leading the movement for heartbeat legislation in Kansas,[9][10] which would prevent abortion care from being provided if a fetal heartbeat is detected. This bill would be similar to legislation that passed the Ohio House. According to The Wichita Eagle, Gietzen felt it would withstand a US Supreme Court challenge. He was working to gather thousands of signatures requesting a special session of the Kansas legislature to take up this legislation.[11][12]

Following the rejection of the anti-abortion Value Them Both amendment to the Constitution of Kansas, in which 59% of the participating electorate voted "no" on August 2, 2022, compared with 41% who voted "yes," Gietzen helped organize what The Kansas City Star described in August 21 news coverage as "baseless allegations of fraud."[13] The Star reported that Gietzen helped set aside just under $120,000 to pay for a recount in nine Kansas counties. The recount, finalized on August 21, changed the outcome by fewer than 70 votes; the margin of victory for the "no" campaign had been about 165,000 votes. Gietzen responded to these events by calling for another round of recounting. A spokeswoman for Kansans for Life, the lead advocate of the Value Them Both proposal, acknowledged in a statement to The Star that the recount effort had no hope of changing the result and called for advocates to "move the cause of life forward in Kansas, not backwards."

Political activities

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A profile of Gietzen in The Wichita Eagle described him as a "staunch conservative".[14] As Vice Chairman of the Sedgwick County Republican Party, Gietzen became chairman of the party on August 13, 1992, after the resignation of the party chair.[15] Gietzen went on to be elected chairman later in the year.[16] In his role as chairman, he opposed a city sales tax increase,[17] opposed Wichita taxpayer funding of art projects,[17] converted a Democratic stronghold in the state of Kansas to a Republican stronghold,[18] created a solid anti-abortion majority in the Sedgwick County Republican Party,[19] and worked to elect Todd Tiahrt to the United States House of Representatives for Kansas's 4th congressional district.[20] He resigned as chairman on June 10, 1996, to run for the Kansas State Senate.[21] He was also a candidate for the same Kansas State Senate seat (28th district[22]) in 1988 and 1992.[23] In 2004, he lost in a Republican primary for the seat.[24] In 2008, he ran in a primary for the Kansas State House in District 96.[25]

At the Kansas Republican Party level, Gietzen worked to bring an anti-abortion leadership to the party during his chairmanship of the party in Sedgwick County.[26] He served as president of the Kansas Republican Coalition for Life[26] until his death. Gietzen publicly criticized former GOP state chairman Tim Shallenberger for welcoming Republicans who support abortion to the party,[27] comparing him to President of the United States George W. Bush's failed Supreme Court nominee, Harriet Miers.[28][29]

Gietzen was president of the Kansas Republican Action Assembly.[1] This group is affiliated with the National Federation of Republican Assemblies.[30]

Gietzen was featured prominently in several sections of What's the Matter with Kansas?, a 2004 book by liberal author Thomas Frank, and appeared as himself in a 2009 documentary film by the same title.

Other activities

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Gietzen was the director of the Christian Singles Information-exchange[25] and was previously employed as a Boeing procurement quality auditor.[31] He wrote a book titled Is it a Sin for a Christian to Be a Registered Democrat in America Today?[32] and discussed it on a segment of the June 25, 2001, broadcast of Hannity and Colmes.[33]

In July 1986, Mark Gietzen was charged with battery (spousal abuse) of his first wife. As a result of this crime he was placed on probation for twelve months, and subsequently was divorced. He affirmed these facts about his past in the course of a 1998 libel suit, which he lost, against State Senator Paul Feleciano.[34]

In 1990, Mark Gietzen's ex-wife wrote a letter which was notarized, explaining the circumstances. It was published in September 1992. In the letter, she explained that while she signed a criminal complaint against her husband in 1986, she did not give accurate or complete information about the event to the court. In her letter, she states that she had overdosed on drugs a few hours prior to the incident. Coming back into the house while still under the influence, she began destroying household objects. Gietzen's wife then physically attacked Gietzen himself by throwing household items at him, starting the incident. Immediately after the fight, she intentionally broke a window, injuring herself, while Gietzen and their children were in another room. The letter further indicated that prior to the incident, Gietzen had never once touched her in anger. In the letter, she stated that she regrets signing the criminal complaint against her ex-husband.[35]

Death

[edit]

Mark Gietzen died in a small plane crash in Nebraska, at the age of 69.[36] The Cessna 172 he was piloting crashed on the evening of May 14, 2023,[37] and he was pronounced dead on the afternoon of May 16, when the wreckage was found.[38] Jalopnik noted a 2022 interview in which Gietzen stated that the cost of the recount for Value Them Both would hinder his plans to maintain the Cessna.[39]

References

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  1. ^ a b Wistrom, Brent D. (March 1, 2007). "Results Galvanize Mayans' Backers". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
  2. ^ "KCFL - Contact page". Archived from the original on June 8, 2009.
  3. ^ Potter, Tim (July 13, 2004). "Area News in Brief". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1B.
  4. ^ "KCFL - Project LPPA Introduction" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2011.
  5. ^ Barstow, David (July 25, 2009). "An Abortion Battle, Fought to the Death". The New York Times. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  6. ^ Sullenger, Cheryl (September 10, 2008). "Snapshot: A Day Outside Tiller's Late-term Abortion Mill". Operation Rescue. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
  7. ^ Fenelon, Marge (January 8–14, 2006). "Prolife Profile - Wichita Life Watch". National Catholic Register. 82 (2).
  8. ^ "Protester Files Claim Against Tiller". The Wichita Eagle. Associated Press. November 10, 2007. p. 3B.
  9. ^ Eckholm, Erik (December 4, 2011). "Anti-Abortion Groups Are Split on Legal Tactics". The New York Times. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  10. ^ Stuart, Hunter (April 10, 2013). "South Wind Women's Center, Abortion Provider In Wichita, Opens Despite Efforts To Stop It". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  11. ^ Mann, Fred (July 17, 2011). "Kansas groups push stricter abortion limits". The Wichita Eagle. Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  12. ^ Baker, Debbie Young (July 5, 2011). "KCFL Launches Heartbeat Legislation Initiative" (PDF). Kansas Coalition for Life. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  13. ^ Bernard, Katie (August 21, 2022). "Kansas recount confirms landslide win for abortion rights, but highlights risk to democracy". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  14. ^ Thomas, Judy Lundstrom (May 31, 1994). "Conservatives Have Edge on Controlling State House". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1D.
  15. ^ Thomas, Judy Lundstrom (August 14, 1992). "GOP Leader Quits Post After Contentious Vote". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1D.
  16. ^ Roe, Jon (December 30, 1992). "Collisions, Clashes Lent a Strange Air". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
  17. ^ a b Ranney, Dave (September 26, 1993). "Foes Say City Has Cash to Pay For Safety Plan But City Officials Say the Money Just Isn't There". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
  18. ^ Frank, Thomas (2005). What's the Matter with Kansas? (reprint ed.). Macmillan. pp. 175–177. ISBN 0-8050-7774-X. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  19. ^ Thomas, Judy Lundstrom (August 10, 1994). "GOP's Conservatives Retain Hold in Big Counties". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1D.
  20. ^ Cross, Jim (August 10, 1994). "County GOP Will Play Role In Wichita's Mayoral Contest". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
  21. ^ Hobson, Grace (June 11, 1996). "Races For Legislature Are Quiet, But Crucial". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
  22. ^ Ranney, Dave (June 24, 1992). "Republican Activist Files For Seat Held by Feleciano". The Wichita Eagle. p. 3D.
  23. ^ Ranney, Dave (November 3, 1996). "Senate Foes Differ on Nearly Everything Former Sedgwick County GOP Chairman Challenges a 20-Year Incumbent". The Wichita Eagle. p. 21A.
  24. ^ "November Matchups". The Wichita Eagle. August 4, 2004. p. 1A.
  25. ^ a b Lefler, Dion; Koranda, Jeannine (June 11, 2008). "Filing Period Over - Primaries Packed This Campaign Season, Voters Have Many Options". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
  26. ^ a b Thomas, Judy Lundstrom (January 29, 1995). "Abortion Opponents Take Control of State GOP". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1B.
  27. ^ "State GOP Chairman Not Stepping Down". Lawrence Journal-World. November 16, 2005. p. 8B.
  28. ^ Moon, Chris (November 17, 2005). "GOP Fighting Targets Leader". Topeka Capital-Journal. p. 1A, 10A.
  29. ^ Kraske, Steve (November 16, 2005). "Shallenberger Vows to Quit Unless GOP Heals Rift". Kansas City Star.
  30. ^ Lefler, Dion (July 6, 2008). "One Conservative Absent From KRA Endorsements". The Wichita Eagle. p. 7A.
  31. ^ Cross, Jim (November 13, 1990). "Wanted: GOP Chief Owens' Resignation Leaves Room at the Top of Party's Hierarchy". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1D.
  32. ^ Mark S. Gietzen (2000). Is It a Sin for a Christian to Be a Registered Democrat Voter in America Today?. Dorrance Pub Co. ISBN 0-8059-5206-3.
  33. ^ "Hannity and Colmes". Hannity and Colmes. June 25, 2001.
  34. ^ "78740 -- Gietzen v. Feleciano -- Lewis -- Kansas Court of Appeals". www.kscourts.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  35. ^ "To Whom It May Concern". First Monday Newspaper (Sedgwick County Republican Party). September 1992. p. 2.
  36. ^ The Associated Press (May 17, 2023). "Mark Gietzen, abortion foe who forced recount of Kansas vote, dies in plane crash at 69". ABC News. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  37. ^ "Mark Gietzen Obituary". The Wichita Eagle. May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  38. ^ "FAA Accident and Incident Notification(s): Notice(s) Created 16-MAY-23".
  39. ^ Anti-Abortion Crusader Dies In Plane Crash After Maybe Spending Cessna Budget On Failed Vote Recount, at Jalopnik; by Steve DaSilva; published May 23, 2023; retrieved June 1, 2023
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