Nellie Jimmie
Nellie Jimmie | |
|---|---|
Unangik | |
| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 38th district | |
| Assumed office January 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Conrad McCormick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1979 (age 44–45) Bethel, Alaska, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 2 |
Nellie D. Jimmie (Yup'ik: Unangik; born 1979) is an American politician and community leader serving as a member-elect of the Alaska House of Representatives for district 38. She previously operated a local business and was a representative on the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative board for Toksook Bay, Alaska.
Early life and education
[edit]Nellie D. Jimmie, also known by her Yup'ik name Unangik, was born in Bethel, Alaska, in 1979.[1] She is of Yup'ik, Ojibwa, and Lakota descent, and her upbringing was rooted in the subsistence lifestyle of her community, including activities such as fishing, hunting, and gathering.[1] Her parents are Alexie and Aleta Jimmie, from whom she learned traditional knowledge and cultural practices.[1] Jimmie spent her early years in Bethel before moving to Toksook Bay in 1987.[1]
She graduated from Nelson Island High School in 1996 and later attended the Alaska Job Corps Center, completing a program in 2000. She completed some college coursework at the University of Phoenix in 2009.[1]
Career
[edit]Jimmie served as the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC) board representative for Toksook Bay. She worked with her family in operating Bayview General Merchandise Inc.[1]
During the 2024 Alaska House of Representatives election, Jimmie ran to represent district 38.[2][3] Her opponents included the incumbent, Conrad McCormick, a Democrat from Bethel; Willy Keppel of the Veterans of Alaska Party; and Victoria Sosa, a Democrat from Bethel who dropped out of the race but remained on the ballot.[2][3] She secured 44 percent of the vote in the primary election.[2] In the general election, Jimmie won with 51.04 percent of the vote after the ranked-choice voting process, narrowly defeating McCormick by 58 votes.[3]
Jimmie's campaign emphasized addressing housing shortages, improving water and sewer infrastructure, and managing subsistence resources.[1][2] She advocated for enhanced support and training for village public safety officers and highlighted the need for public health services in rural areas, such as having medical examiners available closer to remote communities.[2] Her legislative priorities included preserving traditional ways of life, addressing climate change impacts such as erosion and flooding, and fostering cooperation with tribal governments.[1][2]
Personal life
[edit]Jimmie resides in Toksook Bay, Alaska, where she has lived since 1987.[1] She is the mother of two daughters.[1] Since 2012, she has been a member of the Nunakauyak Dance Group, participating in traditional Yup'ik dances. Her hobbies include sewing, crafting, and subsistence activities.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jimmie, Nellie (2024). "Position Sought: House District 38 Representative" (PDF). Alaska Elections. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
- ^ a b c d e f Erickson, Evan; Smiley, Sage (2024-10-31). "Some of HD38 candidate Nellie Jimmie's answers from KYUK's candidate forum". KYUK. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ a b c Smiley, Sage (2024-11-21). "Toksook Bay's Nellie Jimmie will represent the Lower Kuskokwim in the Alaska House". KYUK. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- Living people
- 1979 births
- People from Bethel, Alaska
- Yupik people
- American people of Ojibwe descent
- American people of Lakota descent
- 21st-century Alaska politicians
- 21st-century American women politicians
- 21st-century American legislators
- Women state legislators in Alaska
- Democratic Party members of the Alaska House of Representatives
- 21st-century Native American women
- Native American state legislators in Alaska
- Native American women in politics
- 21st-century Native American politicians
- Alaska Native women