Bill Wielechowski
Bill Wielechowski | |
|---|---|
 Wielechowski in 2009 | |
| Member of the Alaska Senate | |
| Assumed office January 16, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Gretchen Guess |
| Constituency | District J (2007–2013) District H (2013–2023) District K (2023–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 7, 1967 Ridgewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Laura |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence(s) | Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Seton Hall University (BS, JD) |
| Profession | Attorney |
Bill P. Wielechowski (born December 7, 1967) is an American lawyer serving as a Democratic member of the Alaska Senate representing District K, which is located in Northeast Anchorage, Alaska.[1] Prior to the 2022 redistricting process, he represented District H from 2013 to 2023. Wielechowski also previously represented District J from 2007 to 2013.[2]
Early life
[edit]Wielechowski was born December 7, 1967, in Ridgewood, New Jersey, to a Polish-American family (his grandfather immigrated from Kraków in 1910). He attended Seton Hall University earning a Bachelor of Science in business management and finance and graduating magna cum laude. He then attended Seton Hall University School of Law earning his juris doctor in 1992.[3]
After moving to Anchorage, he became a volunteer with the Northeast Community Council, as a Commissioner on the Anchorage Planning & Zoning Commission and as chair of the Creekside Town Center. In 1999 he was the designated chair of the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board.[3]
In 2003, he served on the mayoral transition team for Mark Begich and went on to serve the city as a member of the 2003 Anchorage School District Budget Review Team and the Mayor's Task Force on Obesity and Health. In 2004, he stepped down as designated chair of the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board to become associate general counsel for IBEW Local 1547.[4]
Alaska Senate
[edit]In 2006, he was elected to the Alaska Senate to replace retiring Democratic incumbent Gretchen Guess in District J, which included the neighborhoods of Mt. View, Muldoon and Russian Jack in Anchorage. In the 2010 election, he defeated Ron Slepecki winning 58% of the vote to Slepecki's 42%.[5]
He was a majority member of the Senate bi-partisan Working Group from 2007 through 2012. He then joined the Minority Caucus.
In 2013–2014, Senator Wielechowski led an effort to repeal legislation, passed by the legislature in 2013, granting additional tax credits to oil and gas companies.[6] The effort to repeal the legislation was rejected by Alaska voters in 2014.[7]
Committee assignments
[edit]In the 2015-2016 legislative session, Wielechowski served as a member of the following standing committees; Judiciary, Resources and State Affairs.[4] He also served on the Special Committee on Federal Overreach, the Joint Committee on Armed Services [8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Alaska Districts & Legislative Information Office Locations". Google My Maps. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
- ^ "Alaska State Legislature". www.akleg.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
- ^ a b "Alaska State Legislature". Akleg.gov. 1967-12-07. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
- ^ a b "Bill Wielechowski's Biography - The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
- ^ "State of Alaska 2010 General Election - November 2, 2010 - Official Results without US Senate Race" (PDF). State of Alaska Division of Elections. 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
- ^ "Compass: Repeal SB 21 and start real partnership with oil industry". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
- ^ "'No' votes hold narrow lead in Ballot Measure 1". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
- ^ "Alaska State Legislature". Akleg.gov. 2016-12-31. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
- ^ "Alaska State Legislature". Akleg.gov. 2015-02-17. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Bill Wielechowski at Wikimedia Commons
- Alaska State Legislature - Senator Bill Wielechowski official government website
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Bill P. Wielechowski (AK) profile
- Follow the Money - Bill Wielechowski
- 2006 campaign contributions
- Bill Wielechowski at 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature
- Appearances on C-SPAN