Laura Knaperek (July 12, 1955 – March 3, 2016) was an American Republican politician and public official from Arizona. She was first elected to the Arizona state House of Representatives in 1994. She compiled a conservative record while taking an avid interest in youth and family issues. In 2002, she ran for the state Senate, but lost the general election to Democrat Harry Mitchell.
In 2004, she made a comeback, returning to the state House of Representatives, but was defeated for reelection in 2006. While out of office, she became Executive Director of United Families International, a conservative advocacy group. She sought election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008 but lost to David Schweikert in the primary election.
Biographyedit
Knaperek was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 12, 1955. She and her husband moved to Arizona in 1979. Knaperek was first elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 1994 and was a Republican. She served previously as a school board member for Kyrene School District and worked as the Executive Director for the Arizona Consortium for Children with Chronic Illness. Knaperek served for 10 years in the House where she chaired the powerful Appropriations Committee as well as the Higher Education Committee. She worked on health care, human services and education. After being term limited out of office in 2002, Knaperek ran against incumbent Harry Mitchell as an alternative to his liberal voting record. Knaperek went to work as a columnist for the East Valley Tribune and was recruited to run again in 2004 to take back her former Republican seat. She served for two more years and was voted out due to voter displeasure with Republicans in Congress, the Presidency and the war on terror in Iraq.
She then worked on family issues as the Executive Director of United Families International and ran for Congress to regain the seat from Harry Mitchell. David Schweikert won the primary election in 2008 and ultimately lost to Harry Mitchell in the general election. Knaperek later used her experience and expertise as a political consultant.[1][2]
Personal lifeedit
Knaperek was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and left behind six children.[3]
She died from ovarian cancer on March 3, 2016, aged 60, in Tempe, Arizona.[4]
^Votesmart.org – Laura Knaperek profile; accessed March 4, 2016.
^Arizona State Library-Arizona Legislators: Then & Now: Laura Knaperek 2016-03-08 at the Wayback Machine, azlibrary.gov; accessed March 4, 2016.
^"LDS faithful wrestle with illegal immigration". Retrieved March 5, 2016.
^Former Tempe lawmaker Laura Knaperek dies after battle with cancer, azcentral.com; accessed March 4, 2016.
April 13, 2024
laura, knaperek, july, 1955, march, 2016, american, republican, politician, public, official, from, arizona, first, elected, arizona, state, house, representatives, 1994, compiled, conservative, record, while, taking, avid, interest, youth, family, issues, 200. Laura Knaperek July 12 1955 March 3 2016 was an American Republican politician and public official from Arizona She was first elected to the Arizona state House of Representatives in 1994 She compiled a conservative record while taking an avid interest in youth and family issues In 2002 she ran for the state Senate but lost the general election to Democrat Harry Mitchell Laura KnaperekBornJuly 12 1955Chicago Illinois U S DiedMarch 3 2016 2016 03 03 aged 60 Tempe Arizona U S NationalityAmericanOccupationPoliticianPolitical partyRepublicanIn 2004 she made a comeback returning to the state House of Representatives but was defeated for reelection in 2006 While out of office she became Executive Director of United Families International a conservative advocacy group She sought election to the U S House of Representatives in 2008 but lost to David Schweikert in the primary election Biography editKnaperek was born in Chicago Illinois on July 12 1955 She and her husband moved to Arizona in 1979 Knaperek was first elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 1994 and was a Republican She served previously as a school board member for Kyrene School District and worked as the Executive Director for the Arizona Consortium for Children with Chronic Illness Knaperek served for 10 years in the House where she chaired the powerful Appropriations Committee as well as the Higher Education Committee She worked on health care human services and education After being term limited out of office in 2002 Knaperek ran against incumbent Harry Mitchell as an alternative to his liberal voting record Knaperek went to work as a columnist for the East Valley Tribune and was recruited to run again in 2004 to take back her former Republican seat She served for two more years and was voted out due to voter displeasure with Republicans in Congress the Presidency and the war on terror in Iraq She then worked on family issues as the Executive Director of United Families International and ran for Congress to regain the seat from Harry Mitchell David Schweikert won the primary election in 2008 and ultimately lost to Harry Mitchell in the general election Knaperek later used her experience and expertise as a political consultant 1 2 Personal life editKnaperek was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and left behind six children 3 She died from ovarian cancer on March 3 2016 aged 60 in Tempe Arizona 4 References edit nbsp Biography portal Votesmart org Laura Knaperek profile accessed March 4 2016 Arizona State Library Arizona Legislators Then amp Now Laura Knaperek Archived 2016 03 08 at the Wayback Machine azlibrary gov accessed March 4 2016 LDS faithful wrestle with illegal immigration Retrieved March 5 2016 Former Tempe lawmaker Laura Knaperek dies after battle with cancer azcentral com accessed March 4 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Laura Knaperek amp oldid 1215276102, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
