Cathy Muñoz

Catherine Norah "Cathy" Muñoz (née Engstrom;[1] born June 23, 1964) was a Republican member of the Alaska House of Representatives, who from 2009 to 2017 represented the 34th District.[2] She served as Co-Chair of the Community and Regional Affairs Committee, Vice-Chair of the Education Committee, and served two terms on the House Finance Committee.[3] She served as Co-Chair of the Community & Regional Affairs Committee and Vice-Chair of the Education Committee.[4] Muñoz has been a small business owner since 1988.[5] She was appointed by Governor Michael J. Dunleavy in 2018 to serve as the Deputy Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.[6] Muñoz was a third-generation member of the Alaska Legislature. Her father served in the Alaska House and Senate, her grandfather as the mayor of Douglas, Alaska and in the Territorial and State Senates, and her grandmother served in the Territorial House.[1]

Cathy Muñoz
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 34th district
In office
January 19, 2009 – January 16, 2017
Preceded byAndrea Doll
Succeeded byJustin Parish
Personal details
Born (1964-06-23) June 23, 1964
Juneau, Alaska
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Juan
RelationsElton Engstrom, Jr. (father), Sally Engstrom (mother), Elton Engstrom Sr. (grandfather), Thelma Engstrom (grandmother)
ChildrenMercedes, Matthew
ResidenceJuneau, Alaska
Alma materUniversity of the Pacific U.S.
OccupationBusiness owner

Early Political Experience

Past political and government positions include City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Assembly: 3 Terms, Chair, CBJ Finance, Chair, CBJ Human, Resources Committee, CBJ liaison to School Board and Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee, Former Chair, Trails, Working Group, Chair, Affordable Housing and Alternate Member: Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. Member of the Alaska Native Sisterhood and the Alaska Humanities Forum.

House of Representatives

In 2008, Muñoz beat Democratic incumbent Andrea Doll in District 4, 50.6% to 48.4%.[7] In 2014 Democrat George McGuan ran against Muñoz in district 34. Muñoz won 62.4% of the votes and McGuan won 37.6% of the votes in a mainly Republican district.[8] It was the first time she had faced opposition in six years.[9] In 2016, Democrat Justin Parish beat her 50.9% to 48.5% on a platform of fiscal responsibility. Parish declined to run for reelection after a single term and was succeeded by Democrat Andi Story. Juneau's representative Justin Parish won't seek re-election, KTOO-TV, Jacob Resneck, April 24, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2019.[10]

Muñoz’s legislative work focused on support for small business, public education and the environment. She sponsored legislation offering tax incentives for contributions to public education,[11] as well as new housing development. [12] She authored legislation strengthening Alaska’s Oil Spill and Response capabilities, and carried legislation for Governor Sean Parnell which committed $3 billion to pay down Alaska’s retirement debt.[13].

Gun Control: Muñoz supported pro second amendment legislation.[14]

Equal Rights: Muñoz voted for same-sex marriage and supported the inclusion of gender identity in Alaska's anti-discrimination laws.[14] .[15]

Personal life

Muñoz is a fourth-generation Alaskan. She and her husband Juan have two children, Mercedes and Matthew. She graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School, and received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of the Pacific (United States).[16] She was crowned Miss Juneau in 1982. Her mother-in-law was the famed Alaskan artist Rie Muñoz.[17]

Muñoz is Episcopalian.[18] As a teenager she worked aboard fishing scows and in fish processing plants on the "slime line."[19] Cathy worked in the Ad Lib art gallery in downtown Juneau which she opened with her mother Sally, until she decided to run for the legislature in 2008.[19] Cathy's father, Republican Elton Engstrom, served in the state House from 1965-1966 and the Senate from 1967-1971. His father Elton Engstrom Sr. was a territorial and state senator who died in office in 1963. Elton Sr. Served as the Chairman of the Republican Party of the Territory of Alaska for twenty years.[20] and his mother served in the 18th Territorial Legislature in 1947.

References
  1. Atwood, Evangeline; DeArmond, Robert N. (1977). Who's Who in Alaskan Politics. Portland, Oregon: Binford & Mort for the Alaska Historical Commission. p. 27.
  2. "Cathy Munoz". Ballotpedia.
  3. http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Committee/Details/29?code=HFIN
  4. "Rep. Muñoz's Staff and Committees". HouseMajority.org.
  5. "Rep. Muñoz's". Housemajority.org.
  6. Downing, Suzanne (December 6, 2018). "Cathy Munoz, Nelson San Juan join Dunleavy Administration". Must Read Alaska. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  7. She had no opposition in 2010 and 2012 and was running in District 31 in the latter.Parish knocks out Muñoz house district 34 Archived November 12, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Juneau Empire, James Brooks, November 8, 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  8. "George McGuan - Ballotpedia". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  9. Kelly, Casey. "McGuan gives Muñoz first election challenge in six years". KTOO. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  10. Looking back at Juneau's biggest stories of 2016, Juneau Empire, Lisa Phu, January 1, 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  11. "Alexandra Gutierrez. With One Cent Spill Levy Alaska House Passes First Tax Bill in Years". Alaska Public Media.
  12. "Elizabeth Jenkins. Juneau Assembly Discusses Tax Breaks Stimulate Housing". KTOO Public Media.
  13. "Alexandra Gutierrez. House Approves 3 Billion Transfer Pension System". APRN 360 North.
  14. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  15. "Juneau lawmakers weigh in on same-sex marriage". Juneau Empire - Alaska's Capital City Online Newspaper. Archived from the original on December 11, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  16. "The Alaska State Legislature: House of Representatives". Alaska State Legislature.
  17. "Rie Muñoz Leaves A Legacy Of Delight, Joy And Laughter". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  18. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  19. "About Cathy" (PDF). Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  20. A Democrat recounts Alaska party politics Archived February 22, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Juneau Empire, Elton Engstrom, September 22, 2006. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
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