Meet Heidi
Heidi Seevers Gansert and her family have called Nevada home for four generations. She has proudly raised her four children here and is invested in our state’s future.
Heidi earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno and Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Santa Clara University.
Prior to serving in public office, Heidi led a successful 20-year career in the private sector, including as a resource planning engineer and a medical practice management consultant.
Heidi began her work in the public sector when she was elected to the state assembly in 2004. She went on to become the first female Republican leader in the history of Nevada’s legislature. In 2010, she joined Governor Brian Sandoval’s administration as his first Chief of Staff. Heidi served in these leadership positions during the recession and during Nevada’s recovery. Heidi has always fought for accountable, transparent and fiscally responsible government.
Keeping Our Children Safe
Stop Passing the Trash
Heidi passed legislation (SB287, 2017) that created a dual reporting system for allegations of abuse in schools and transparency so parents and guardians have access to substantiated reports of abuse. The landmark policy combats the “Passing the Trash” phenomenon in which abusive school personnel move from school district to school district to continue their behavior without consequences.
SafeVoice Early Warning System Implemented Across Nevada K-12 Schools
SafeVoice is a critical K-12 early warning system in Nevada’s K-12 schools. As a champion for school safety, Heidi passed legislation (SB212, 2017) implementing the state-wide K-12 SafeVoice system that provides an easy text message-based mechanism for any student or person to report dangerous, violent, or unlawful activity being conducted or threatened at school or school activity. During its first year, Safe Voice received over 6,000 tips including over 1,000 messages related to suicide, self-harm and threats to other students.
Women's' Advocate
With Heidi leading the way, Nevada women will always have a champion in their corner. She supported the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights (SB368, 2019), protected victims of sex trafficking (SB173, 2019), and sponsored legislation to require DNA testing for sex offenders (AB105, 2009). In addition to being the only senate Republican to cross party lines and vote for the Equality (SJR2, 2017), Heidi was the lone member of her party in the senate to vote for SB233 in 2017, which gave women access to 12 months of birth control at a time.
Expanding Access to Healthcare
Heidi has fought to improve healthcare coverage and expand access. She supported legislation (AB170, 2019) to ensure those with pre-existing conditions are eligible for insurance coverage and sponsored important legislation to make prescription drug costs more transparent and affordable (SB539, 2017). Heidi also sponsored and passed legislation to expand early intervention services for children with autism which accelerated the growth of Registered Behavioral Technologists from 70 in 2017 to over 1,000 in 2020 (SB258, 2019).
