Mary Sattler

Who is Mary Sattler?

Mary K. Sattler, is a Democratic politician in the U.S. state of Alaska, best known for serving five terms in the Alaska House of Representatives. Sattler represented the 39th District, and following redistricting the 38th District, which were centered around the community of Bethel, from 1999 to 2009. Outside of politics, she has pursued careers in health care, journalism and public relations.

Sattler is the second of eleven children of Ward Sattler, who was a bush pilot and school teacher based in Bethel for several decades. He was also an early staff member of Alaska's at-large representative in the U.S. House, Don Young. Ward Sattler twice ran as a Republican for the 6th District House seat, challenging Democratic incumbent Woodie Salmon. The first time, in 2004, he ran as a Republican while his daughter ran for reelection to her House seat as a Democrat. Salmon lost his reelection bid in 2010 to Alan S. Dick, who like Ward Sattler is a Republican, former educator and resident of the Stony River drainage.

Sattler was originally elected in 1998, having defeated incumbent Ivan Martin Ivan of Akiak in the Democratic primary.