User:Yx7791/Sandbox/Mark Gietzen

Mark S. Gietzen is an American pro-life activist and conservative political activist. He lives in Wichita, Kansas.

Pro-Life Activities
Gietzen is the chairman of the Kansas Coalition for Life. One of the major projects of this organization is to place crosses each day on public property in front of George Tiller's late-term abortion facility in Wichita, KS. As part of this project, pro-life volunteers are present on public property in front of the facility whenever it is open for business. Gietzen has been protesting the facility since 1978.

Political Activities
Gietzen has been described by the Wichita Eagle as a "staunch conservative." As Vice Chairman of the Sedgwick County Republican Party, Gietzen became chairman of the party on August 13, 1992 after the resignation of the party chair Gietzen went on to be elected chairman later in the year. In his role as chairman, he opposed a city sales tax increase, opposed Wichita taxpayer funding of art projects , converted a Democrat stronghold in the state of Kansas to a Republican stronghold , created a solid pro-life majority in the Sedgwick County Republican , and worked to elect Todd Tiahrt for Kansas' Fourth Congressional District. He resigned as chairman on June 10, 1996, in order to run for the Kansas State Senate. He was also a candidate for the Kansas State Senate in 1988 and 1992. In 2004, he lost in a Republican primary for the seat. In 2008, he ran in a primary for the Kansas State House in District 96.

At the Kansas state Republican party level, Gietzen publicly criticized former GOP state chairman Tim Shallenberger for welcoming Republicans who support abortion to the party, comparing him to President George W. Bush's failed Supreme Court nominee, Harriet Miers.

Gietzen is president of the Kansas Republican Action Assembly. This group is affiliated with the National Federation of Republican Assemblies.

Other Activities
Gietzen is the director of the Christian Singles Information-exchange.

He was also employed as a Boeing procurement quality auditor.

Gietzen wrote a book titled Is it a Sin for a Christian to Be a Registered Democrat in America Today? (Dorrance Pub Co, 2000) ISBN 0805952063, and ISBN 9780805952063.