Randall Scott Friese (born c. 1964)[2] is an American surgeon and politician from the state of Arizona. A member of the Democratic Party, Friese served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2015 through 2021, when he resigned to focus on his medical career.[3]

Randy Friese
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 9th district
In office
January 5, 2015 – November 15, 2021
Preceded byEthan Orr
Succeeded byChristopher Mathis
Personal details
Born
Randall Scott Friese[1]

c.1964 (age 59–60)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSusan
EducationUniversity of Maryland, College Park (BS, MD)
University of Texas (MS)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1997–2001
Rank Lieutenant commander
UnitNavy Medical Corps

Education edit

Friese earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1986.[1] He received a medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1990[4] and a Master of Science in clinical sciences from the University of Texas Southwestern Graduate School in 2008.[5]

Career edit

From 1997 to 2001, Friese served in the United States Navy's Medical Corps. He left the service as a lieutenant commander.[6]

Friese is a trauma surgeon,[7] and he served as an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Arizona Medical Center. He now is a surgeon for Banner Health following the 2015 merger with UAHN.[5] He treated Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and nine-year-old Christina Taylor-Green after they were shot in the 2011 Tucson shooting.[2][8]

Arizona House of Representatives edit

Friese ran for the Arizona House of Representatives in District 9 as a member of the Democratic Party in the 2014 elections. He defeated Republican incumbent Ethan Orr by 0.12% of the vote.[9][10][11]

On March 25, 2021, Friese announced he would run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona's 2nd congressional district in the 2022 election.[12] He ended his campaign on September 2, 2021, citing his commitment to practicing medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, and resigned from the legislature effective November 15, 2021.[13][14]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Commencement. The University of Maryland College Park. May 27, 1986. p. 28. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Grady, Denise; Medina, Jennifer (January 14, 2011). "From Bloody Scene to E.R., Lifesaving Choices in Tucson". The New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  3. ^ Ray Stern (November 8, 2021). "More vacancies at Legislature: Reps. Charlene Fernandez, Randy Friese submit resignations". Arizona Republic.
  4. ^ Commencement 1990 (PDF). University of Maryland at Baltimore. May 25, 1990. p. 13. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Candidate : Randy Friese". tucson.com. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  6. ^ Duarte, Carmen. "Two Democratic incumbents, GOP newcomer seek LD9 seats in Arizona House". Arizona Daily Star.
  7. ^ "Gosar won't challenge McCain". azcentral. March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  8. ^ McKinnon, Shaun (February 8, 2011). "Gabrielle Giffords shooting: Desperate for word". USA Today. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  9. ^ "Incumbent Ethan Orr Ousted in State House Race". azpm.org. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  10. ^ Pitzl, Mary Jo (November 12, 2014). "Legislature, state retain same partisan makeup". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  11. ^ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2014 General Election November 4, 2014" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 9. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  12. ^ Mutnick, Ally (March 25, 2021). "Citing gun violence, Gabby Giffords' trauma surgeon enters race for her old House seat". Politico. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  13. ^ Oshin, Olafimihan (September 2, 2021). "Ariz. state senator who saved Gabby Giffords's life ends congressional bid due to COVID-19 surge". TheHill.
  14. ^ Hansen, Ronald J. "Arizona Rep. Randy Friese ends congressional bid, says he can't quit medicine during COVID-19 pandemic". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 9, 2021.

External links edit