Richard Ziser

{{short description|American real estate investor and politician}}

Richard Ziser is an American real estate investor and socially conservative political activist belonging to the Republican Party.

Early life

Ziser was born June 7, 1953, in Pomona, California, and has resided in Las Vegas, Nevada since 1991.

Education

Ziser graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) with a BS in Industrial Engineering, 1976; then subsequently from Simon Greenleaf University in Santa Ana, CA, (now a campus of Trinity International University, with an MA in Christian Apologetics in 1989.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/candidates/22949/ 2004 Election Profiles, Nevada Senate, Richard Ziser (R)], Washington Post

Career

=U.S. Senate candidacy=

In 2004, Ziser defeated 5 rival candidates in the Republican primary, then ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate against Democratic incumbent Harry Reid, losing 61%-35%."[http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Nov-04-Thu-2004/news/25166677.html General election results]", Las Vegas Review-Journal, November 04, 2004 In 1998, Ziser lost his election bid to be on the Clark County, Nevada School Board.Jane Ann Morrison, "[http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1998/Sep-25-Fri-1998/news/8285329.html Panel dismisses complaint over political ad]", Las Vegas Review-Journal, September 25, 1998

=Political activity=

Ziser rose to political prominence as the leader of the effort to ban gay marriage in Nevada.{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Tatsha |last2=Freiss |first2=Steve |title=GAY MARRIAGE DECISION SPURS ACTION ACROSS US |publisher=Boston Globe |date=23 November 2003|id={{ProQuest|404841726}} }} He headed the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage, a successful, four-year campaign that succeeded in amending Nevada's State Constitution to define marriage as a union between "one man and one woman" in 2000.{{cite news |last1=Neff |first1=Erin |title=Federal races go as expected |publisher=Las Vegas Review - Journal |date=8 September 2004|id={{ProQuest|260172560}} }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nevadaconcernedcitizens.org/ |title=Home |website=nevadaconcernedcitizens.org}}{{cite news |last1=Neff |first1=Erin |title=Ziser: Massachusetts shows gay marriage ban needed |publisher=Las Vegas Review - Journal |date=10 February 2004|id={{ProQuest|260172871}} }}

In light of the Nevada Legislature's overriding of Governor Jim Gibbons' veto on domestic partnership legislation; due to take effect October 1, 2009. Ziser stated his intents to overturn the legislation as unconstitutional.Martha Bellisle, [http://www.rgj.com/article/20090604/NEWS11/906040342/1321/NEWS/Nevada+partners+law+to+enable+registered+couples+to+adopt+children Nevada partners law to enable registered couples to adopt children]", Reno Gazette-Journal, June 4, 2009

Ziser is also an anti-abortion activist, opposing legalized abortion by proposing a Personhood Constitutional Amendment designed to protect the "right to life," of the fetus.{{cite news |last1=Foegel |first1=Ed |last2=Spillman |first2=Ben |title=Nevada abortion statute targeted: Activist pursues personhood petition |publisher=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=22 October 2009|id={{ProQuest|457358653}} }}

References

Additional sources

[http://www.nevadaconcernedcitizens.org/ Nevada Concerned Citizens] (Coalition for the Protection of Marriage)
{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040828055832/http://www.ziserforsenate.com/ |date=August 28, 2004 |title=Richard Ziser for Senate Website }}
Jane Ann Morrison, "[http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1998/Sep-25-Fri-1998/news/8285329.html Panel dismisses complaint over political ad]", Las Vegas Review-Journal, September 25, 1998
"[http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2000/jan/05/petition-to-ban-same-sex-marriages-cheered/ Petition to ban same-sex marriages cheered]", Las Vegas Sun, January 5, 2000
Kris Hill, "[http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2001/mar/27/bill-may-extend-rights-for-gays/ Bill may extend rights for gays]", Las Vegas Sun, March 27, 2001
Erin Neff, "[http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2003/aug/28/ziser-marriage-protection-organizer-runs-for-senat/ Ziser, marriage protection organizer, runs for Senate]", Las Vegas Sun, August 28, 2003
Erin Neff and Michael Squires, "[http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Oct-26-Sun-2003/news/22444393.html Political Notebook: Subpoenas, polygraphs part of Moncrief probe]", Las Vegas Review-Journal, October 26, 2003
Steve Sebelius-OpEd, "[http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Sep-16-Thu-2004/opinion/24780990.html A very bad sign]", Las Vegas Review-Journal, September 16, 2004
Richard Ziser, "[http://desertsaintsmagazine.com/2006/07/01/the-next-step-in-marriage-protection/ The Next Step In Marriage Protection]", Desert Saints Magazine, July 2006 Issue
Richard Fitzpatrick, "[http://www.nevadaconfidential.com/nevada-confidential-blog/2006/11/22/being-politically-correct-on-family-day-2006.html Being politically correct on Family Day 2006]", Nevada Confidential, November 22, 2006
Steve Sebelius, "[http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2007/06/21/opinion/coffee_and_outrage/iq_15046471.prt Have we had enough hate yet?]", Las Vegas CityLife, June 21, 2007
Erin NefF-OpEd, "[http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/May-18-Thu-2006/opinion/7462989.html More 'protection']", Las Vegas Review-Journal, May 18, 2006
Andrew Kiraly, "[http://blogs.lasvegascitylife.com/cityblog/2008/07/29/oh-about-that-ruined-state-economy-blame-richard-ziser-too Oh, about that ruined state economy: Blame Richard Ziser, too.]", Las Vegas CityLife, July 29, 2008
Richard Lake, "[http://www.lvrj.com/news/26025979.html Same-sex marriage ban might be costing Nevada]", Las Vegas Review-Journal, July 29, 2008
"[http://vegastearoom.blogspot.com/2009/03/richard-ziser-and-janine-hanson-do-tag.html Richard Ziser and Janine Hanson Do A Tag-Team Of Stupid At The Nevada Legislature]", Vegas Tea Room, March 27, 2009
"[http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/01/Domestic-partnerships-to-be-law-in-Nevada/UPI-11891243865999/ Domestic partnerships to be law in Nevada]", United Press International, June 1, 2009
Ed Vogel and Molly Ball, "[http://www.elynews.com/articles/2009/06/03/news/news04.txt Lawmakers override veto of domestic partner bill]", The Ely News, June 6, 2009
Martha Bellisle, "[http://www.rgj.com/article/20090604/NEWS11/906040342/1321/NEWS/Nevada+partners+law+to+enable+registered+couples+to+adopt+children Nevada partners law to enable registered couples to adopt children]", Reno Gazette-Journal, June 4, 2009
Kathleen Hennessey, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20090709063021/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gkzL-yKLwhNjJeXBMCZODK0KbQnAD98SNLKO1 Sen. Ensign's admission blurs conservative image]", Associated Press, June 17, 2009