Geri Huser

Geri D. Huser (born July 14, 1963)[1] is an American lawyer and Democratic party politician. She served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1996 to 2011. Since 2015 she has been Chairwoman of the Iowa Utilities Board.

Geri D. Huser
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 42nd district
In office
1996–2011
Preceded byJames Van Fossen
Succeeded byKim Pearson
Personal details
Born (1963-07-14) July 14, 1963[1]
Des Moines, Iowa
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDan Huser
Children2
ResidenceAltoona, Iowa
OccupationChairwoman of the Iowa Utilities Board.
Professionattorney
WebsiteHuser's website

Early life and education

Geri Huser, nee Skinner, was born to Ed and Lois Skinner.[1] Her father is an attorney and land developer. She has a sister, Julie Skinner-Stewart.[2] She graduated from Southeast Polk High School and later received a B.A. in social work from Briar Cliff College.[3] She also got a J.D. degree from Drake University.[3]

Career

From 1990 to 1994, she served as a member of the Altoona City Council.[3] She also served on the Metropolitan Planning Organization beginning in 1990.

From 1996 to 2011, Huser represented the 42nd District in the Iowa House of Representatives and served on several committees: the Judiciary committee; the Local Government committee; the Ways and Means committee; and the Transportation committee, which she chaired. In 2006, Huser was re-elected with 8,493 votes, running unopposed.[4] She lost re-election in 2011 to tea party Republican Kim Pearson by 126 votes.[2] As of 2011, she served as a Planning Specialist with Polk County Social Services and has been director of Iowa Finance Authority's Title Guaranty Division.[2] After serving in the House, Huser became a partner at Skinner Law Firm in Altoona.[3]

In 2015, she became Chairwoman of the Iowa Utilities Board. In June 2016 she voted not to allow the controversial construction of the Bakken pipeline to continue, but lost due to votes by the other two members, Nick Wagner and Libby Jacobs, who voted in favor.[5]

In 2017, it became known that she had continued to work in her legal practice on the side, in 500 court filings.[6]

Huser was named to Governor Terry Branstad's Transportation 2020 Citizen Advisory Commission. Her IUB board leadership ended in 2023, however her board term was scheduled to continue for four years; it is unclear, why Kim Reynolds replaced her. As she was appointed by former governor Terry Branstad, who has been working for the Summit Agricultural Group, which is seeking a permit for carbon capture pipeline to North Dakota she had a perceived conflict of interest, but she "at least had an open mind about this case", as critics have noted.[7]

Personal life

Huser is married to Dan Huser,[8] and together they have a daughter, Kelli, and a son, Blake.[1]

Organizations
  • Altoona City Council (2 years)[1][2]
  • Greater Des Moines Housing Trust Fund Board
  • Metropolitan Planning Organization
  • Altoona Family Home
  • East Polk Interagency Association[1]

References
  1. "Representative Geri Huser". The Iowa Legislature. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  2. "Where are they now? Geri Huser edition". Bleeding Heartland. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  3. Krueger, Jonathan. "Hall of Honor has five new inductees". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  4. "Official Results Report - Statewide" (PDF). 7 November 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2006.
  5. William Petrowski (6 June 2016). "Despite critics, Bakken pipeline gets go-ahead in Iowa". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  6. RYAN J. FOLEY (2017-03-28). "AP Exclusive: Iowa regulator keeps busy private law practice". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  7. Donnelle Eller (2023-09-05). "Iowa agribusiness magnate's access to Gov. Kim Reynolds paves way for pipeline, lawyer says". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
  8. James, Jean. "John Huser". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 2020-07-09.


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