David Gaither

David C. Gaither (born March 4, 1957) is a Minnesota resident, business and non-profit executive with over 20 years of private sector leadership positions ranging from early stage/startups using private equity, to venture capital funded expansions of stage II organizations to publicly traded, fortune 500 firms in telecommunications, direct response marketing, executive search and turnaround efforts and a former member of the Minnesota Senate who represented District 43, which included portions of Minnetonka, Plymouth and Medicine Lake. A Republican, he was elected in 2002 and served three years before resigning to become Governor Tim Pawlenty's chief of staff.

Gaither lives in Plymouth, Minnesota where he is the Executive Director of the International Education Center (IEC) in Minneapolis one of the largest CBO providers of Adult Basic Education (ABE) services in the state of Minnesota. Serving newly arrived adult immigrants and refugees, providing English language instruction, math classes, GED classes, computer classes, citizenship classes, jobs skills training.• Member of International Visitor Program, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, providing a focus on the role that NGOs play in U.S. resettlement efforts.^[1]

Personal life

Gaither was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from Wayzata High School as a member of the National Honor Society and was a four time state champion and record holder in the hurdles. While at the University of Minnesota he established a number of records and earned All Big Ten honors in the High Hurdles. He volunteered as Area Director of the Wayzata/Plymouth Youth Football Association, and as Board Member of the Lake Minnetonka Athletic Association and as Vice Chair of the Plymouth Planning Commission before becoming State Senator of SD43.

Political career

Minnesota Legislature, State Senator, Assistant Minority Leader

Gaither's endorsements included, Education Minnesota, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Twin West Chamber of Commerce, Taxpayer League of Minnesota and was a member of the Commerce, Capital Investment, E-12 Education Finance, Regulated Utilities, Jobs, Energy and Community Development, and Employee Relations committees.^[2] In 2005, Gaither resigned from his position as State Senator to assume the role of Chief of Staff under Governor Tim Pawlenty.^[2]

Governor Pawlenty Chief of Staff

Senior executive leading a highly complex and visible statewide enterprise serving 5.2 million citizens with over 30,000 employees and a $30 billion annual budget. Led the Governor’s 24-member Cabinet. Principal and confidential advisor to the Governor on policy, budget, appointments, federal affairs, communications, media relations, operations, and emergency response. Responsible for the Governor’s Office, leading a 45+ member team dedicated to constituent services, legislative affairs, Cabinet/judicial appointments, media, and scheduling. Member of the Governor’s 2006 successful re-election team. As Chief of Staff, Gaither was also responsible for negotiation agreements among the Democratic-led Senate, the Republican-led House, and the Governor. Gaither was instrumental in both the Minnesota Twins Stadiums and University of Minnesota Football Stadiums passing.

Senate voting record

Education

Gaither voted to allow the teaching of creationism in Minnesota public schools.^[3]

Voted in favor of $17.6 million in cuts to state agencies and departments, including $2.5 million from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.^[4]

Gun control

Gaither voted in favor of the conceal and carry permit bill.

Pay equity for women

Gaither voted against pay equity for women. The bill required more frequent pay equity reporting from political subdivisions.^[5] (April 22, 2004, Senate Journal Page 4004, S.F. 1782: Pay Equity Bill)

Health Care

Gaither voted for cuts to MinnesotaCare and General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) that would cause more than 35,000 to lose out on health care coverage by 2005. Many of those affected were children, senior citizens and people with physical or mental disabilities.^[6]

Gaither voted against the repeal of the MinnesotaCare limited benefit $5,000 annual cap and limits on services for some working adults with incomes between 75% and 175% of federal poverty guidelines. The cap caused some Minnesotans denial of treatment, medical supplies and prescriptions even though they continued to pay their MinnesotaCare premiums, and caused some with long-term illnesses and chronic diseases to stop necessary and life-threatening treatment.^[7]

Transportation

Gaither has been a staunch opponent of the Southwest Light Rail corridor, a project supported by local Chamber's of Commerce, city councils, and identified by the Federal Government as one of 10 Federal New Starts projects selected to move into Preliminary Engineering amongst over 100+ applicants.^[8]

Gaither voted to cut Light Rail (LRT) expansion multiple times. The first Day Amendment cut LRT funding, restricted local match funding for LRT and limited the use of state funds available for LRT operations. The 2nd Day Amendment cut over $8 million in funding for LRT.^[9]

Veterans

Gaither voted against the Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s request to fund tuition reimbursement and child care assistance for returning Minnesota military personnel, as well as to require school districts to provide active service pay differential to employees who are called to action.^[10]

Gaither voted against creating “Support Our Troops” license plates, expanding the National Guard Tuition Reimbursement Program to 100% for the cost of tuition and books, and against a Reenlistment Bonus Program for National Guard members.^[11]

Electoral history

• Minnesota Senate District 43 Election 2010
  • David Gaither (R), 19,537 votes, 54.18%
  • Harold Lerner (D), 12,391 votes, 34.36%
  • Saundra Spigner (I), 4,109 votes, 11.39%
  • Write-in, 24 votes, .07%

References