Staci Appel

Background

Appel was born in Waterloo, Iowa. She grew up in Iowa City, Iowa, and completed her formal education at Iowa City West High School.

Career

She served in the as the Assistant Majority Leader from 2007 to 2011 representing the 37th district. A Democrat, in 2014 she unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives for Iowa"s 3rd congressional district. Appel worked for 12 years as a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch and Union Bank of Switzerland Paine Webber.

Appel served on several committees in the – the Agriculture committee.

The State Government committee. The Ways and Means committee.

And the Education committee, where she was vice chairman She also served as vice chair of the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee.

Appel"s first bill in the Senate was a proposal to raise the minimum wage in Iowa to $7.25.

During her time in the State Senate Appel favored the Equal Pay Foreign Equal Work Acting

Appel is pro-choice and supports same-sex marriage. She has stated her support for the Affordable Care Acting and would not repeal lieutenant Appel endorses Senator Tom Harkin’s proposal to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour.

On immigration, she has stated her support for increased border security and a pathway for citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States.

On gun rights, Appel has stated that the gun-show loophole should be closed and that background checks should be required wherever a gun is purchased. On foreign policy, she has stated her opposition to Russia’s incursions into Ukraine, though noted that “she said she doesn"t hear Iowans talking much about foreign policy.”

Appel ran for an open congressional seat in Iowa"s 3rd congressional district.

Incumbent congressman Tom Latham retired. She initially stated she would run for the seat, before announcing that she would not run, citing family obligations, before reversing her decision once again to commit to the race.

She faced Republican nominee David Young in the general election.

Appel was endorsed by EMILY"s List, a political action committee that supports pro-choice female Democrats, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added her to their jumpstart program, which provides financial support. Stuart Rothenberg of Roll Call rated the race as "Pure Toss Up".

In May 2014, a Republican spokesperson accused Appel of plagiarizing text from another candidate"s website, something her campaign manager said he takes responsibility foreign

Achievements

• Appel lost her bid for re-election to state Representative Kent Sorenson in 2010, who won the election by a 58% to 40% margin.

Politics

Iowa Democratic Party, Democratic Party.

Membership

As a member of the, Appel was appointed to be the Assistant Majority Leader.