By SUZANNE DOWNING
Freshman Alaska House member Garret Nelson has issued his first public statement on official state letterhead, pushing back against an extraordinary claim by Sen. Cathy Giessel that his large family could expose him to criminal liability if he votes or advocates for a full Permanent Fund dividend.
Giesseled: Anchorage senator implies PFD advocacy could be criminal if legislator has children
Nelson, who represents House District 29, the Sutton-Wasilla-area seat held for nearly a decade by George Rauscher before he moved to the Senate, was targeted last week in Giessel’s legislative newsletter.
In that email, Giessel suggested that because Nelson has nine children, he would personally benefit so much from a statutory dividend that supporting a full PFD might constitute a criminal conflict of interest. She said that legislators had gone to jail for such things.
The comment drew swift backlash from Alaskans across the political spectrum, who said the idea that parents are disqualified from voting on policies that affect families strikes at the heart of representative government.
On Monday, Nelson responded in a written statement released on Alaska House letterhead, making clear he is not backing down.
“As I prepare to represent District 29 in Juneau, I am deeply honored and genuinely excited as a husband, father, and proud Alaskan,” Nelson wrote. “Our state faces serious challenges, yet Alaskans confront and overcome hardship every day, no matter the size of their families. Together, we will do the same as a state.”
Nelson then directly addressed Giessel’s claim that voting for a statutory PFD could land him in jail.
“Last week, a fellow legislator suggested I could face jail if I voted for a statutory PFD because of my large family,” he wrote. “While this statement makes no sense on multiple levels, if following the law ever put me behind bars, I would stand in good company among other parents and patriots who hold the same values.”
The statutory PFD is set in state law and is calculated using a formula tied to Permanent Fund earnings. In recent years, the Legislature has repeatedly overridden that formula to reduce dividends in order to cover budget shortfalls. Advocates of a full statutory dividend argue that lawmakers have no legal or ethical justification to withhold what the law already promises Alaskans and that if they want to change the formula set in statute, they should change the law first, rather than continue to break the law.
Giessel’s argument implied that lawmakers with larger families — or anyone who would receive more money because they have children — could be legally conflicted from voting or even advocating for a lawful dividend. That logic would mean parents should also be barred from voting on education, child tax credits, or any policy that affects families.
Nelson also took aim at what he described as the personal nature of the attack.
“Additionally, if the harshest attacks I face are veiled insults toward my wonderful wife and children, then this will be the easiest job I’ve ever had,” he wrote.
He closed his statement by reaffirming his commitment to his constituents.
“I will work diligently for District 29, I am humbled to serve, and I am eager to carry your voices to Juneau,” Nelson wrote. “Let’s Roll!”
With the 2026 legislative session set to open Jan. 20, the PFD is once again expected to be one of the most contentious issues facing the Capitol, and Nelson has made clear that attacks on his family will not change his position.
Giesseled: Anchorage senator implies PFD advocacy could be criminal if legislator has children
6 thoughts on “Rep. Garret Nelson issues written response to Sen. Cathy Giessel attack on his family”
I wish I had moved to that district years ago.
Learn to be successful and happy where you are at. Work to make your year more Red starting with who is leading your neighborhood community council.
I assure you that Kenai-Soldotna. wasilla, Palmer, and Fairbanks are facing internal challenges that is threatening its existence remaining a Redder district.
There are growing a lot more Yundts on Wasilla-Palmer-Eagleriver than Republicans want to admit. If they don’t increase their knowledge and discernment Soon! Those two districts will not look nor feel much different than living on Anchorage.
And you still can’t get arrested for voting on a full statute dividend while being a 11 member household
Whether or not you use the children’s dividends or each child has a personal savings account set aside for each of their future
Because not all Akparents (but only a few) don’t spend their child’s PFD. Some parents are squirreling it away for when their child needs it for a car and trade school to get them started in life.
Senator Jezebel is a liar like she always was and still is
If digging into things is warranted, investigation will reveal that Senator Giessel is a very troubled person. Her change in political views is one part of this. I hope she gets the help she needs.
It stands to reason then, Cathy Giessel, by her own words, is potentially committing a criminal act by introducing and voting for a defined benefits bill which will directly benefit her monetarily. I believe her husband is/was a state employee so she has another conflict of interest because the bill she’s pushing would put money in other family members pockets. Time to investigate Giessel?
Giessel should have ethics complaints filed against her for this outrageous claim and impugning a fellow legislator for what would be his constitutional and statutory duty to vote on legislation before him.
Quite seriously it may be time for someone to suggest testing for mental illness she is not well.