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Johnny Ellis

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Johnny Ellis
Ellis in 2013
Majority Leader of the Alaska Senate
In office
January 19, 2009 – January 18, 2011
Preceded byGary Stevens
Succeeded byKevin Meyer
Member of the Alaska Senate
from the I district
In office
January 15, 2013 – January 14, 2017
Preceded byRedistricted
Succeeded byTom Begich
Member of the Alaska Senate
from the L district
In office
January 20, 2003 – January 15, 2013
Preceded byRandy Phillips
Succeeded byRedistricted
Member of the Alaska Senate
from the H district
In office
January 11, 1993 – January 20, 2003
Preceded byPat Pourchot
Succeeded byScott Ogan
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 12B district
In office
January 19, 1987 – January 11, 1993
Preceded byDonald Clocksin
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born(1960-03-13)March 13, 1960
Springfield, Missouri, U.S.
DiedFebruary 9, 2022(2022-02-09) (aged 61)
Harrison, Arkansas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationClaremont McKenna College (BA)

Johnny Ellis (March 13, 1960 – February 9, 2022) was an American politician who served as a member of the Alaska Senate from 1992 to 2017. He was previously a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1986 through 1992.

Early life and education

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Ellis was born in Springfield, Missouri, and moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1975.[1] Ellis was an Eagle Scout. After graduating from Bartlett High School (Anchorage, Alaska) in 1978, he attended the University of Alaska Anchorage for one year before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Claremont McKenna College in 1982.

Career

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Ellis served as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993. He was then elected to the Alaska Senate, representing the H district from 1993 to 2003. Ellis represented the L district from 2003 to 2013 and the I district from 2013 to 2017. From 2009 to 2011, Ellis served as majority leader of the Senate. Outside of politics, Ellis was a commissioner of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and operated several small businesses.[2]

Personal life and death

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In 2016, Ellis spoke publicly about his health issues, including battles with prostate cancer, and multiple sclerosis. He also came out as gay.[3]

Ellis died on February 9, 2022, at the age of 61.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Senator Ellis". 2008-09-01. Archived from the original on 2008-09-01. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  2. ^ "100 Years of Alaska's Legislature – Johnny Ellis". 100years.akleg.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  3. ^ Wohlforth, Charles (17 November 2016). "Sen. Johnny Ellis sacrificed his private life for public service". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  4. ^ Ruskin, Liz (10 February 2022). "Former state Sen. Johnny Ellis has died". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
Honorary titles
Preceded by Dean of the Alaska Senate
2003–2017
Succeeded by