Heidi Gansert | |
---|---|
Minority Leader of the Nevada Senate | |
Assumed office February 6, 2023 | |
Preceded by | James Settelmeyer |
Member of the Nevada Senate from the 15th district | |
Assumed office November 9, 2016 | |
Preceded by | Jesse Haw |
Member of the Nevada Assembly from the 25th district | |
In office November 3, 2004 – November 3, 2010 | |
Preceded by | Dawn Gibbons |
Succeeded by | Patrick Hickey |
Personal details | |
Born | Heidi K. Seevers 1963 (age 60–61) Reno, Nevada, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Guy Gansert |
Children | 4 |
Education | Santa Clara University (BS) University of Nevada, Reno (MBA) |
Heidi Seevers Gansert (born 1963) is an American politician, businessperson, and engineer from the state of Nevada serving in the Nevada Senate, representing the 15th district since 2016. She served in the Nevada Assembly from 2004 through 2010, including as Republican leader, and as chief of staff to Governor Brian Sandoval from 2011 through 2012. She is a Republican.
Gansert graduated from Bishop Manogue High School in Reno, Nevada, in 1981.[1] She earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering from Santa Clara University and a Master of Business Administration from University of Nevada, Reno.[2] Gansert worked as a management consultant for medical firms and a resource planning engineer for NV Energy.[3]
Gansert was elected to the Nevada Assembly in 2004, representing District 25 (part of Washoe County).[4] She became assistant minority leader in 2007 and minority leader in 2009. Gansert opted not to seek reelection in the 2010 elections.[5]
When Brian Sandoval, a childhood friend, won the 2010 election to become Governor of Nevada, Gansert led his transition team and became his chief of staff. She resigned from the governor's office in August 2012[4] and was hired by the University of Nevada, Reno as a special assistant for external affairs in October 2012.[6]
Gansert was elected to the Nevada Senate in the 2016 elections, representing southwestern Washoe County.[7] Her Republican colleagues chose her to be the minority leader of the senate in November 2022.[8] In August 2023, Gansert announced that she would not seek reelection in 2024.[9]
Gansert has displayed a mix of moderate and conservative policy positions during her time in public office. For instance, in 2017 Gansert voted for a budget compromise worked out between Republican Governor Sandoval and the Democratic leadership of the Legislature, despite strong conservative criticism at the imposition of a tax on marijuana and a lack of funding for private schools.[10] However, Gansert has also displayed conservative positions, such as her opposition to the decriminalization of abortion in Nevada, on the grounds that the parental notification requirement and other restrictions should remain in place.[11]
Gansert's husband is an emergency medicine doctor. Gansert participates in marathons and triathlons.[12][13] She and her husband have four children, and live in Reno.[4]