Carl J. Kunasek

General Information

Male
Omaha, Douglas Co., NE, USA

Biographical Information

The Honorable Carl Kunasek was elected to a seat on the Arizona Corporation Commission in the November 8, 1994 General Election.  The following is from the 2000 Arizona Corporation Commission site:

Commissioner Kunasek has been an Arizona resident since 1961.  He is a graduate of Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska. He received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, 1955 and is licensed in Arizona and Nebraska.  Mr. Kunasek served in the U.S. Air Force with the rank of First Lieutenant, MSC 1955-58.  He was appointed by President Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be Commissioner of the Navajo and Hopi Relocation Commission from 1990-1994.  He was a member of the Arizona State Senate from 1983-1989, where he served as President of the Arizona State Senate 1987-1989.  He served as a member of the Arizona State House of Representatives from 1972-1982.  He owned and operated three pharmacies in Mesa, 1966-1983.

His major legislative accomplishments include: the Floodplain Development Act; Developmentally Disabled Community Based Treatment Program; and has authored and negotiated with the federal government the AHCCCS Program.  AHCCCS provides health care to indigents in lieu of traditional Medicaid and is now being adopted in many other states.

Commissioner Kunasek was first elected to the Arizona Corporation Commission in November, 1994.  He is also a member of the Committee on Water for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).  He serves as a member of the American Water Works Association Public Council on Drinking Water Research Foundation.  He has been active in community service with groups such as the East Valley Partnership, Arizona Town Hall, The Economic Club of Phoenix, Greater Phoenix Affordable Health Care, City of Mesa Board of Adjustment and Christ the King parochial school board.

Commissioner Kunasek is married, with four children and eight grandchildren.

Employment

Occupation Title Years
Health Care pharmacist
Government Corporation Commission, State of Arizona (Republican) 1995 - 2000

Arizona Legislative Service

Session Chamber Party District City County Office Notes
31st Legislature, 1st Regular House Republican 30 - Maricopa, Pinal (1973-82) Mesa Maricopa
31st Legislature, 2nd Regular House Republican 30 - Maricopa, Pinal (1973-82) Mesa Maricopa
32nd Legislature, 1st Regular House Republican 30 - Maricopa, Pinal (1973-82) Mesa Maricopa
32nd Legislature, 2nd Regular House Republican 30 - Maricopa, Pinal (1973-82) Mesa Maricopa
33rd Legislature, 1st Regular House Republican 30 - Maricopa, Pinal (1973-82) Mesa Maricopa
33rd Legislature, 2nd Regular House Republican 30 - Maricopa, Pinal (1973-82) Mesa Maricopa
34th Legislature, 1st Regular House Republican 30 - Maricopa, Pinal (1973-82) Mesa Maricopa
34th Legislature, 2nd Regular House Republican 30 - Maricopa, Pinal (1973-82) Mesa Maricopa
35th Legislature, 1st Regular House Republican 30 - Maricopa, Pinal (1973-82) Mesa Maricopa
35th Legislature, 2nd Regular House Republican 30 - Maricopa, Pinal (1973-82) Mesa Maricopa
36th Legislature, 1st Regular Senate Republican 21 - Maricopa (1983-92) (1993-2002) (2003-12) Mesa Maricopa
36th Legislature, 2nd Regular Senate Republican 21 - Maricopa (1983-92) (1993-2002) (2003-12) Mesa Maricopa
37th Legislature, 1st Regular Senate Republican 21 - Maricopa (1983-92) (1993-2002) (2003-12) Mesa Maricopa
37th Legislature, 2nd Regular Senate Republican 21 - Maricopa (1983-92) (1993-2002) (2003-12) Mesa Maricopa
38th Legislature, 1st Regular Senate Republican 21 - Maricopa (1983-92) (1993-2002) (2003-12) Mesa Maricopa President of the Senate
38th Legislature, 2nd Regular Senate Republican 21 - Maricopa (1983-92) (1993-2002) (2003-12) Mesa Maricopa President of the Senate

Sources

Birth: Arizona Legislative Biography sheet