Rosemary Lesser
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Rosemary Lesser | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the Utah House of Representatives from the 10th district | |
| In office January 16, 2021 – December 31, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | LaWanna Shurtliff |
| Succeeded by | Jill Koford |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Notre Dame (BS) Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (MD) |
Rosemary T. Lesser is an American physician, United States Air Force veteran, and Democratic politician who represented Utah House of Representatives District 10 from January 2021 until December 2024.[1][2]
Lesser was raised in an Air Force family and lived on multiple U.S. and European bases during childhood.[3] She was a member of the first cohort of undergraduate women admitted to the University of Notre Dame, earning a B.S. in preprofessional studies in 1976.[4][5] She received an M.D. from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 1981.[2]
Military and medical career
After medical school, Lesser served around 15 years in the United States Air Force as an obstetrician-gynecologist, with duty assignments including Germany and Texas.[6][7] She completed an OB/GYN residency at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.[8]
After completing military service in 1992, she settled in Ogden, Utah, practicing at the Ogden Women’s Clinic and at Ogden Regional Medical Center and McKay-Dee Hospital until 2012; she later worked as an OB hospitalist, including at the Ogden Clinic.[6][9] Lesser has also participated in medical volunteer work, including surgical outreach in Mali, West Africa, and emergency medical response following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.[6][a]
Political career
Following the death of Rep. LaWanna “Lou” Shurtliff on December 30, 2020, Democratic delegates in House District 10 recommended Lesser for appointment; Governor Spencer Cox appointed her on January 16, 2021, and she took office during the 2021 general session.[1][11][12]
In the 2022 general election she defeated Republican nominee Jill Koford with 52.3% of the vote (5,771 to 5,271).[13] In 2024, Koford narrowly defeated Lesser in one of the state’s closest House races; canvassed county results certified Koford’s win and flipped the Weber County–based seat to Republicans.[14][15][16]
Lesser served on several legislative committees, including the House Health & Human Services Committee and the House Political Subdivisions Committee.[17][18] She was elected Democratic caucus manager in late 2022 and served in the caucus leadership during the 2023–2024 sessions.[19]
Lesser’s priorities included expanding access to health care, eliminating the state sales tax on groceries, strengthening early childhood supports, and clean air and natural resource protection.[20] Commentators frequently noted her uncommon status as a Democratic legislator from outside Salt Lake County.[21]
Personal life and community
Lesser and her husband, physician and Air Force veteran Dave Lesser, live in Ogden; they have six children and grandchildren.[6] She has been involved with community organizations including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Weber–Davis, Onstage Ogden, the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service at Weber State University, and the Women in Business Committee of the Ogden–Weber Chamber of Commerce.[22]
Her recognitions include the 2024 Community Leader of the Year award from United Way of Northern Utah[23] and the 2025 ATHENA International Leadership Award from the Ogden–Weber Chamber of Commerce.[24][25]