Gail Gutsche
Gail Gutsche was a member of the Montana Public Service Commission representing District 4. Gutsche, a Democrat, was first elected in 2008 and assumed office in 2009. She lost her bid for re-election in 2012 to Bob Lake (R).[1]
Gutsche challenged Lake to a rematch in the 2016 elections.[2] She was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. She was defeated in the general election on November 8, 2016.
Biography
A writer by trade, Gutsche worked for Sun Newspapers from 1976-1991 and the Salt Lake City Publishing Company in 1991. Since 2004 she has been a freelance writer and consultant. Gutsche co-owned Wild Rockies Tours, a Montana-based canoe-touring business, from 1996-2006.[1]
Education
- B.A., English, Gustavus Adophus College, 1976
- White Bear Lake High School, 1972
Political career
Public Service Commission (2009-2013)
In 2008, Gutsche became only the second woman to be elected to the Montana Public Service Commission. Her term expired in 2013.
Montana House of Representatives (1999-2005)
First elected in 1998, Gutsche served four terms in the Montana House of Representatives. She sat on the Judiciary, Fish Wildlife and Parks and Natural Resources Committees, and was elected Whip in 2005.
Elections
2016
Gutsche ran against Republican commissioner Bob Lake, who defeated her in her 2012 re-election bid by about 2,500 votes out of over 95,000 votes cast. She defeated two other Democrats, Mark Sweeney and Lee Tavenner in the Democratic primary and competed with Lake in the general election.[2]
Incumbent Bob Lake defeated Gail Gutsche in the Montana public service commission, District 4 election.
| Montana Public Service Commission District 4, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Bob Lake Incumbent |
54.41% | 54,705 | |
| Democratic | Gail Gutsche | 45.59% | 45,842 | |
| Total Votes | 100,547 | |||
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||||
Gail Gutsche defeated Mark Sweeney and Lee Tavenner in the Montana Democratic primary for public service commissioner, district 4.
| Montana Democratic primary for public service commissioner, district 4, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Gail Gutsche |
58.20% | 14,804 |
| Mark Sweeney | 31.16% | 7,926 |
| Lee Tavenner | 10.64% | 2,707 |
| Total Votes (122 of 122 precincts reporting) | 25,437 | |
| Source: Montana Secretary of State | ||
2012
Gutsche sought re-election in 2012.[3] She was unopposed in the June 5 Democratic primary and lost to Bob Lake (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[4]
| Montana Public Service Commission District 4 General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Bob Lake |
51.4% | 49,140 | |
| Democratic | Gail Gutsche Incumbent | 48.6% | 46,462 | |
| Total Votes | 95,602 | |||
| Election results via Montana Secretary of State | ||||
| Montana Public Service Commission, District 4, Democratic Primary, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
| Gail Gutsche |
100% | 16,407 | ||
| Total Votes | 16,407 | |||
| Election results via Montana Secretary of State. | ||||
2008
Gutsche won election on November 4, 2008, defeating Republican Doug Mood.[5]
| Montana Public Service Commission District 4, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Gail Gutsche |
51.9% | 48,755 | |
| Republican | Doug Mood Incumbent | 48.1% | 45,138 | |
| Total Votes | 93,893 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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See also
External links
- Official campaign website
- Montana Public Service Commission - Gail Gutsche
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Gail Gutsche on Facebook
- Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998, 1994
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Project Vote Smart, "Gail Gutsche biography," accessed December 24, 2011
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Montana Secretary of State, "2016 candidate filing list: Non-Legislative," accessed March 15, 2016
- ↑ Billings Gazette, "Many Montanans scoping out 2012 political races ," June 12, 2011
- ↑ CSPAN, "Campaign 2012-Election Results From the Associated Press," accessed June 6, 2012
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "November 4, 2008 general election results," accessed December 17, 2011
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Montana Public Service Commissioner District 4 2009–2013 |
Succeeded by Bob Lake (R) |
