Mark Gietzen

Mark S. Gietzen is an American pro-life and conservative political activist. He lives in Wichita, Kansas, United States. He is the chairman and founder of the group Kansas Coalition for Life. Since 2004, he has served continuously as the elected President of The Kansas Republican Assembly, a state affiliate of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies.

Mark Gietzen, 2011.

Pro-Life activities

Gietzen is 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] KCFL claims 395 babies saved to date. As part of this project, pro-life volunteers 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 is leading the movement for heartbeat legislation in Kansas,[9][10] which would prevent abortions from being done if a heartbeat is detected on an unborn baby. This bill would be similar to legislation that has passed the Ohio House. According to the Wichita Eagle, Gietzen feels it would withstand a US Supreme Court challenge. He is working to gather thousands of signatures requesting a special session of the Kansas legislature to take up this legislation. [11][12]

Political Activities

Gietzen has been described by the Wichita Eagle as a "staunch conservative".[13] 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.[14] Gietzen went on to be elected chairman later in the year.[15] In his role as chairman, he opposed a city sales tax increase,[16] opposed Wichita taxpayer funding of art projects,[16] converted a Democratic stronghold in the state of Kansas to a Republican stronghold,[17] created a solid pro-life majority in the Sedgwick County Republican Party,[18] and worked to elect Todd Tiahrt for Kansas' Fourth Congressional District.[19] He resigned as chairman on June 10, 1996, in order to run for the Kansas State Senate.[20] He was also a candidate for the same Kansas State Senate seat (28th district[21]) in 1988 and 1992.[22] In 2004, he lost in a Republican primary for the seat.[23] In 2008, he ran in a primary for the Kansas State House in District 96.[24]

At the Kansas state Republican party level, Gietzen worked to bring a pro-life leadership to the Kansas state Republican Party, while he was Chairman of the Sedgwick County Republican Party.[25] He serves as president of the Kansas Republican Coalition for Life.[25] Gietzen publicly criticized former GOP state chairman Tim Shallenberger for welcoming Republicans who support abortion to the party,[26] comparing him to President George W. Bush's failed Supreme Court nominee, Harriet Miers.[27][28]

Gietzen is president of the Kansas Republican Action Assembly.[1] This group is affiliated with the National Federation of Republican Assemblies.[29]

In 2004 Gietzen was featured prominently in several sections of the New York Times Best Selling book "What’s the Matter with Kansas?" by Thomas Frank and later played himself in a movie by the same title.

Other activities

Gietzen is the director of the Christian Singles Information-exchange[24] and was employed as a Boeing procurement quality auditor.[30] He wrote a book titled Is it a Sin for a Christian to Be a Registered Democrat in America Today?[31] and discussed it on a segment of the June 25, 2001 broadcast of Hannity and Colmes.[32]

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.[33]

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.[34]

References
  1. Wistrom, Brent D. (2007-03-01). "Results Galvanize Mayans' Backers". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
  2. "KCFL - Contact page". Archived from the original on June 8, 2009.
  3. Potter, Tim (2004-07-13). "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 (2009-07-25). "An Abortion Battle, Fought to the Death". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  6. Sullenger, Cheryl (2008-09-10). "Snapshot: A Day Outside Tiller's Late-term Abortion Mill". Operation Rescue. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  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. 2007-11-10. p. 3B.
  9. Eckholm, Erik (2011-12-04). "Anti-Abortion Groups Are Split on Legal Tactics". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  10. Stuart, Hunter (2013-04-10). "South Wind Women's Center, Abortion Provider In Wichita, Opens Despite Efforts To Stop It". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  11. Mann, Fred (2011-07-17). "Kansas groups push stricter abortion limits". The Wichita Eagle. Archived from the original on 2012-08-19. Retrieved 2011-07-31.
  12. Baker, Debbie Young (2011-07-05). "KCFL Launches Heartbeat Legislation Initiative" (PDF). Kansas Coalition for Life. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2011-07-31.
  13. Thomas, Judy Lundstrom (1994-05-31). "Conservatives Have Edge on Controlling State House". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1D.
  14. Thomas, Judy Lundstrom (1992-08-14). "GOP Leader Quits Post After Contentious Vote". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1D.
  15. Roe, Jon (1992-12-30). "Collisions, Clashes Lent a Strange Air". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
  16. Ranney, Dave (1993-09-26). "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.
  17. Frank, Thomas (2005). What's the Matter with Kansas? (reprint ed.). Macmillan. pp. 175–177. ISBN 0-8050-7774-X. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  18. Thomas, Judy Lundstrom (1994-08-10). "GOP's Conservatives Retain Hold in Big Counties". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1D.
  19. Cross, Jim (1994-08-10). "County GOP Will Play Role In Wichita's Mayoral Contest". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
  20. Hobson, Grace (1996-06-11). "Races For Legislature Are Quiet, But Crucial". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
  21. Ranney, Dave (1992-06-24). "Republican Activist Files For Seat Held by Feleciano". The Wichita Eagle. p. 3D.
  22. Ranney, Dave (1996-11-03). "Senate Foes Differ on Nearly Everything Former Sedgwick County GOP Chairman Challenges a 20-Year Incumbent". The Wichita Eagle. p. 21A.
  23. "November Matchups". The Wichita Eagle. 2004-08-04. p. 1A.
  24. Lefler, Dion; Koranda, Jeannine (2008-06-11). "Filing Period Over - Primaries Packed This Campaign Season, Voters Have Many Options". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1A.
  25. Thomas, Judy Lundstrom (1995-01-29). "Abortion Opponents Take Control of State GOP". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1B.
  26. "State GOP Chairman Not Stepping Down". Lawrence Journal-World. 2005-11-16. p. 8B.
  27. Moon, Chris (2005-11-17). "GOP Fighting Targets Leader". Topeka Capital-Journal. p. 1A, 10A.
  28. Kraske, Steve (2005-11-16). "Shallenberger Vows to Quit Unless GOP Heals Rift". Kansas City Star.
  29. Lefler, Dion (2008-07-06). "One Conservative Absent From KRA Endorsements". The Wichita Eagle. p. 7A.
  30. Cross, Jim (1990-11-13). "Wanted: GOP Chief Owens' Resignation Leaves Room at the Top of Party's Hierarchy". The Wichita Eagle. p. 1D.
  31. 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.
  32. "Hannity and Colmes". Hannity and Colmes. 2001-06-25.
  33. "78740 -- Gietzen v. Feleciano -- Lewis -- Kansas Court of Appeals". www.kscourts.org.
  34. "To Whom It May Concern". First Monday Newspaper (Sedgwick County Republican Party). September 1992. p. 2.
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