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Alaska was [[List of U.S. states by date of statehood|admitted to the Union]] on January 3, 1959.
Alaska was [[List of U.S. states by date of statehood|admitted to the Union]] on January 3, 1959.


The [[Constitution of Alaska|state constitution]] provides for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every four years on the same [[Ticket (election)|ticket]], with their terms commencing on the first Monday in the December following the election.<ref>AK Const. art. III, § 4</ref> Governors are allowed to succeed themselves once, having to wait four years after their second term in a row before being allowed to run again.<ref>AK Const. art. III, § 5</ref> Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor assumes the title of governor.<ref>AK Const. art. III, § 11</ref> The original constitution of 1956 created the office of secretary of state, which was functionally identical to a lieutenant governor, and was renamed to "lieutenant governor" in 1970.<ref name='ltgov'>{{cite web|url=http://ltgov.state.ak.us/services/constitution.php?section=3 |title=Article 3 – The Executive | work=The Alaska Constitution |publisher=Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska | accessdate=August 2, 2010}}</ref>
The [[Constitution of Alaska|state constitution]] provides for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every four years on the same [[Ticket (election)|ticket]], with their terms commencing on the first Monday in the December following the election.<ref>AK Const. art. III, § 4</ref> Governors are allowed to succeed themselves once, having to wait four years after their second term in a row before being allowed to run again.<ref>AK Const. art. III, § 5</ref> Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor assumes the title of governor.<ref>AK Const. art. III, § 11</ref> The original constitution of 1956 created the office of secretary of state, which was functionally identical to a lieutenant governor, and was renamed to "lieutenant governor" in 1970.<ref name='ltgov'>{{cite web |url=http://ltgov.state.ak.us/services/constitution.php?section=3 |title=Article 3 – The Executive |work=The Alaska Constitution |publisher=Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska |accessdate=August 2, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823164512/http://ltgov.state.ak.us/services/constitution.php?section=3 |archivedate=August 23, 2009 |df= }}</ref>


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|[[Craig Campbell (politician)|Craig Campbell]]<br><small>(took office August 10, 2009)</small>{{refn|Campbell's position was termed "Temporary Substitute Lieutenant Governor<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ltgov.alaska.gov/campbell/lieutenant-governor/full-press-release.html?pr=5 | title=Campbell Becomes Temporary Substitute LG | publisher=State of Alaska | date=July 26, 2009 | accessdate=August 2, 2010}}</ref> until he was confirmed by the Alaska Legislature on August 10, 2009.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_single_journal.asp?session=26&date=20090810&beg_page=1247&end_page=1258&chamber=H | title=House Journal, Alaska State Legislature, Twenty-Sixth Legislature, First Special Session| publisher = State of Alaska | date=August 10, 2009 | accessdate=December 17, 2009}}</ref>|group="lower-alpha"}}
|[[Craig Campbell (politician)|Craig Campbell]]<br><small>(took office August 10, 2009)</small>{{refn|Campbell's position was termed "Temporary Substitute Lieutenant Governor<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ltgov.alaska.gov/campbell/lieutenant-governor/full-press-release.html?pr=5 | title=Campbell Becomes Temporary Substitute LG | publisher=State of Alaska | date=July 26, 2009 | accessdate=August 2, 2010 | deadurl=yes | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611034249/http://ltgov.alaska.gov/campbell/lieutenant-governor/full-press-release.html?pr=5 | archivedate=June 11, 2010 | df= }}</ref> until he was confirmed by the Alaska Legislature on August 10, 2009.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_single_journal.asp?session=26&date=20090810&beg_page=1247&end_page=1258&chamber=H | title=House Journal, Alaska State Legislature, Twenty-Sixth Legislature, First Special Session| publisher = State of Alaska | date=August 10, 2009 | accessdate=December 17, 2009}}</ref>|group="lower-alpha"}}
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|[[Alaska gubernatorial election, 2010|2010]]
|[[Alaska gubernatorial election, 2010|2010]]

Revision as of 09:55, 29 September 2017

Governor of Alaska
Seal of Alaska
Incumbent
Bill Walker
since December 1, 2014
ResidenceAlaska Governor's Mansion
Term lengthFour years, renewable once
Inaugural holderWilliam Allen Egan
FormationJanuary 3, 1959
DeputyByron Mallott
Salary$145,000 (2013)[1]
Websitegov.alaska.gov

The Governor of Alaska is the chief executive of the State of Alaska. The governor is the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces (including the Alaska National Guard and Alaska State Defense Force), The governor is also the head of the executive branch of Alaska's state government and has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Alaska Legislature,[2] to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.[3]

Eleven people have served as governor of the State of Alaska over 13 distinct terms, though Alaska had over 30 civilian and military governors during its long history as a United States territory. Only two governors, William Allen Egan and Bill Walker, were born in Alaska. Two people, Egan and Wally Hickel, have been elected to multiple non-consecutive terms as governor. Hickel is also noted for a rare third party win in American politics, having been elected to a term in 1990 representing the Alaskan Independence Party. The longest-serving governor of the state was Egan, who was elected three times and served nearly 12 years. The longest-serving territorial governor was Ernest Gruening, who served 13½ years.

The current governor is Bill Walker, who took office on December 1, 2014.

Governors before statehood

Alaska was purchased by the United States from the Russian Empire in 1867, with formal transfer occurring on October 18, 1867, which is now celebrated as Alaska Day.[4] Prior to then, it was known as Russian America or Russian Alaska, controlled by the governors and general managers of the Russian-American Company.

Commanders of the Department of Alaska

The vast region was initially designated the Department of Alaska, under the jurisdiction of the Department of War and administered by the U.S. Army officers until 1877, when the Army was withdrawn from Alaska. The Department of the Treasury then took control, with the Collector of Customs as the highest ranking federal official in the territory. In 1879, the U.S. Navy was given jurisdiction over the department.[5]

Some believe the first American administrator of Alaska was Polish immigrant Włodzimierz Krzyżanowski. However, the Anchorage Daily News was unable to find any conclusive information to support this claim.[6]

# Commander Term in office
United States Army
1 Col. Jefferson C. Davis October 18, 1867 – August 31, 1870
2 Capt. George K. Brady September 1, 1870 – September 22, 1870
3 Maj. John C. Tidball September 23, 1870 – September 19, 1871
4 Maj. Harvey A. Allen September 20, 1871 – January 3, 1873
5 Maj. Joseph Stewart January 4, 1873 – April 20, 1874
6 Capt. George B. Rodney, Jr. April 21, 1874 – August 16, 1874
7 Capt. Joseph B. Campbell August 17, 1874 – June 14, 1876
8 Maj. John Mendenhall June 15, 1876 – March 4, 1877
9 Capt. Arthur Morris March 5, 1877 – June 14, 1877
United States Department of the Treasury
10 Montgomery P. Berry June 14, 1877 – August 13, 1877
11 H.C. DeAhna August 14, 1877 – March 26, 1878
12 M. D. Ball March 27, 1878 – June 13, 1879
United States Navy
13 Capt. Lester A. Beardslee June 14, 1879 – September 12, 1880
14 Cmdr. Henry Glass September 13, 1880 – August 9, 1881
15 Cmdr. Edward P. Lull August 10, 1881 – October 18, 1881
16 Cmdr. Henry Glass October 19, 1881 – March 12, 1882
17 Cmdr. Frederick Pearson March 13, 1882 – October 3, 1882
18 Cmdr. Edgar C. Merriman October 4, 1882 – September 13, 1883
19 Cmdr. Joseph Coghlan September 15, 1883 – September 13, 1884
20 Lt. Cmdr. Henry E. Nichols September 14, 1884 – September 15, 1884

Governors of the District of Alaska

On May 17, 1884, the Department of Alaska was redesignated the District of Alaska, an incorporated but unorganized territory with a civil government. The governor was appointed by the President of the United States.

# Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 John Henry Kinkead July 4, 1884 – May 7, 1885 Chester A. Arthur
2 Alfred P. Swineford May 7, 1885 – April 20, 1889 Grover Cleveland
3 Lyman Enos Knapp April 20, 1889 – June 18, 1893 Benjamin Harrison
4 James Sheakley June 18, 1893 – June 23, 1897 Grover Cleveland
5 John Green Brady June 23, 1897 – March 2, 1906[a] William McKinley
6 Wilford Bacon Hoggatt March 10, 1906[8] – May 20, 1909 Theodore Roosevelt
7 Walter Eli Clark May 20, 1909 – August 24, 1912 William Howard Taft

Governors of the Territory of Alaska

The District of Alaska was organized into Alaska Territory on August 24, 1912. Governors continued to be appointed by the President of the United States.

# Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 Walter Eli Clark August 24, 1912 – April 18, 1913 William Howard Taft
2 John Franklin Alexander Strong April 18, 1913 – April 12, 1918[b] Woodrow Wilson
3 Thomas Riggs, Jr. April 12, 1918 – June 16, 1921
4 Scott Cordelle Bone June 16, 1921 – August 16, 1925 Warren G. Harding
5 George Alexander Parks August 16, 1925 – April 19, 1933 Calvin Coolidge
6 John Weir Troy April 19, 1933 – December 6, 1939 Franklin Delano Roosevelt
7 Ernest Gruening[c] December 6, 1939 – April 10, 1953
8 B. Frank Heintzleman April 10, 1953 – January 3, 1957[d] Dwight D. Eisenhower
— Waino Hendrickson January 3, 1957 – April 8, 1957 Acting[e]
9 Mike Stepovich April 8, 1957 – August 9, 1958[f] Dwight D. Eisenhower
— Waino Hendrickson August 9, 1958 – January 3, 1959 Acting[e]

Governors of the State of Alaska

Alaska was admitted to the Union on January 3, 1959.

The state constitution provides for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every four years on the same ticket, with their terms commencing on the first Monday in the December following the election.[13] Governors are allowed to succeed themselves once, having to wait four years after their second term in a row before being allowed to run again.[14] Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor assumes the title of governor.[15] The original constitution of 1956 created the office of secretary of state, which was functionally identical to a lieutenant governor, and was renamed to "lieutenant governor" in 1970.[16]

№ Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[g][h]
1 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" |  William Allen Egan January 3, 1959
–
December 5, 1966 		Democratic 1958 rowspan="2" style="background:Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" |  Hugh Wade
1962
2 Wally Hickel December 5, 1966
–
January 29, 1969 		Republican 1966
[i] 		Keith Harvey Miller
3 Keith Harvey Miller January 29, 1969
–
December 7, 1970 		Republican Robert W. Ward
1 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | William Allen Egan December 7, 1970
–
December 2, 1974 		Democratic 1970 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | H. A. Boucher
4 Jay Hammond December 2, 1974
–
December 6, 1982 		Republican 1974 Lowell Thomas, Jr.
1978 Terry Miller
5 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | Bill Sheffield December 6, 1982
–
December 1, 1986 		Democratic 1982 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | Stephen McAlpine
6 Steve Cowper December 1, 1986
–
December 3, 1990 		Democratic 1986
2 Wally Hickel December 3, 1990
–
December 5, 1994 		Alaskan Independence 1990
[j] 		Jack Coghill[k]
style="background:Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Republican
7 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | Tony Knowles December 5, 1994
–
December 2, 2002 		Democratic 1994 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | Fran Ulmer
1998
8 Frank Murkowski December 2, 2002
–
December 4, 2006 		Republican 2002 Loren Leman
9 Sarah Palin December 4, 2006
–
July 26, 2009 		Republican 2006
[l] 		Sean Parnell
10 Sean Parnell July 26, 2009
–
December 1, 2014 		Republican Vacant
Craig Campbell
(took office August 10, 2009)[m]
2010 Mead Treadwell
11 style="background:Template:Independent (United States)/meta/color;"| Bill Walker December 1, 2014
–
Incumbent 		Independent 2014
[n] 		style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color" | Byron Mallott[o]

Living former governors

As of January 2017 there are seven living former governors of Alaska, the oldest being Keith Harvey Miller (served 1969-1970, born 1925). The most recent death of a former governor was that of Mike Stepovich (served 1957-1958, born 1919) on February 14, 2014. The most recently serving governor to die was Wally Hickel (served 1966-1969 and 1990-1994, born 1919) on May 7, 2010.

Governor Years in office Date of birth (and age)
Keith Harvey Miller 1969–1970 (1925-03-01) March 1, 1925 (age 99)
Bill Sheffield 1982–1986 (1928-06-26) June 26, 1928 (age 96)
Steve Cowper 1986–1990 (1938-08-21) August 21, 1938 (age 85)
Tony Knowles 1994–2002 (1943-01-01) January 1, 1943 (age 81)
Frank Murkowski 2002–2006 (1933-03-28) March 28, 1933 (age 91)
Sarah Palin 2006–2009 (1964-02-11) February 11, 1964 (age 60)
Sean Parnell 2009–2014 (1962-11-19) November 19, 1962 (age 61)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Forced to resign due to his involvement with the fraudulent Reynolds–Alaska Development Company.[7]
  2. ^ Resigned on request after it was discovered he was still a Canadian citizen.[9]
  3. ^ During most of World War II, Lt. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr., was the military commander of Alaska, and held much executive power over the territory.[10]
  4. ^ Resigned; was reportedly unhappy with the job, and did not expect to be reappointed.[11]
  5. ^ a b As secretary of Alaska, acted as governor for remainder of term.[12]
  6. ^ Resigned to run for United States Senate, losing that election.[12]
  7. ^ The office of lieutenant governor was named secretary of state until 1970.[16]
  8. ^ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  9. ^ Hickel resigned to become United States Secretary of the Interior; as secretary of state, Miller succeeded him.
  10. ^ Hickel was elected as a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, and switched to the Republican party in April 1994.[17]
  11. ^ Represented the Alaskan Independence Party.
  12. ^ Palin resigned, citing the costs of ethics investigations;[18] as lieutenant governor, Parnell succeeded her.
  13. ^ Campbell's position was termed "Temporary Substitute Lieutenant Governor[19] until he was confirmed by the Alaska Legislature on August 10, 2009.[20]
  14. ^ Governor Walker's first term expires December 3, 2018; he is not yet term limited.
  15. ^ Represented the Democratic Party.

References

General
  • "Alaska: Past Governors Bios". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  • Gates, Nancy (2007). The Alaska Almanac: Facts about Alaska (30th ed.). Graphic Arts Center Publishing Co. pp. 85–87. ISBN 0-88240-652-3. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
Constitution
Specific
  1. ^ "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  2. ^ AK Const. art. II, § 15
  3. ^ AK Const. art. III
  4. ^ "State Symbols". Alaska Office of Economic Development. Archived from the original on February 8, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Gates p. 86
  6. ^ Ruskin, Liz (2002-12-20). "Barking up the wrong Pole: Hero wasn't governor". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
  7. ^ Janson, Lone (1975). The Copper Spike. Alaska Northwest Publishing Co. p. 44. ISBN 0-88240-045-2.
  8. ^ "New Governor of Alaska". New York Times. March 11, 1906. p. 5.
  9. ^ Gruening, Ernest (1973). Many Battles: The Autobiography of Ernest Gruening. Liveright. p. 216. ISBN 0-87140-565-2.
  10. ^ Personal Justice Denied: Report of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. University of Washington Press. 1997. p. 319. ISBN 0-295-97558-X.
  11. ^ Naske, Claus-M. (1985). A History of Alaska Statehood. University Press of America. p. 244. ISBN 0-8191-4556-4.
  12. ^ a b Naske, Claus-M.; Herman E. Slotnick (1979). Alaska: A History of the 49th State. Eerdmans. p. 309. ISBN 0-8028-7041-4.
  13. ^ AK Const. art. III, § 4
  14. ^ AK Const. art. III, § 5
  15. ^ AK Const. art. III, § 11
  16. ^ a b "Article 3 – The Executive". The Alaska Constitution. Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska. Archived from the original on August 23, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "Alaska's Gov. Hickel Rejoins Gop Amid Speculation Over Another Term". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. April 15, 1994. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
  18. ^ Cockerham, Sean (July 7, 2009). "Palin says ethics investigations were paralyzing". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on October 4, 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "Campbell Becomes Temporary Substitute LG". State of Alaska. July 26, 2009. Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "House Journal, Alaska State Legislature, Twenty-Sixth Legislature, First Special Session". State of Alaska. August 10, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
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