Steve M. Thompson
Steve M. Thompson | |
|---|---|
 Steve Thompson in November 2010 | |
| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 2nd district | |
| Assumed office January 17, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Jay Ramras |
| 47th Mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska | |
| In office 2001–2007 | |
| Preceded by | James C. Hayes |
| Succeeded by | Terry Strle |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 27, 1944 Cottage Grove, Oregon |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Janel Thompson (died 2006) (2) Kathleen Thompson (m. 2009) |
| Residence | Fairbanks, Alaska |
| Alma mater | Southern Oregon College |
| Occupation | Auto Parts Business Owner |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1965–1967 |
| Rank | Sergeant  |
Stephen Max "Steve" Thompson (born October 27, 1944)[1][2] is a retired businessman and Republican politician from the US state of Alaska. He has been a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from District 2 in Fairbanks since 2011. He previously served as mayor of Fairbanks from 2001 to 2007.
Early life
Steve Thompson was born in Cottage Grove, Oregon. He attended Southern Oregon College from 1963 to 1965 before joining the U.S. Army, where he attained the rank of sergeant. His last duty station was at Fort Wainwright, adjacent to Fairbanks, Alaska. After being discharged from the Army, he remained in Fairbanks and went to work for a local business, M & O Auto Parts. Thompson eventually became the president and CEO of M & O, selling it to the Schuck's Auto Supply chain in 1999.[2][3]
Political career
Thompson, retired from business, ran for the position of mayor of Fairbanks in 2001. The seat was open, as the incumbent, James C. Hayes, was term-limited. At the time, Thompson was manager of the Fairbanks lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He defeated five other challengers, including two incumbent members of the city council, Scott Kawasaki and Charlie Rex.[4]
Thompson was unopposed for re-election in 2004. In 2007, himself term-limited, Thompson ran for and won a seat on the city council. He resigned shortly thereafter, citing problems related to the illness and death of his wife, Janel. Critics and opponents claimed that in fact, he had relocated to Palm Springs, California but was still claiming Fairbanks as his residence for political purposes.
Thompson ran for another open seat, this time in the Alaska House of Representatives, in 2010. The incumbent, Jay Ramras, ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor. In the primary, he defeated Vivian Stiver, a downtown Fairbanks merchant and city council member who ran unsuccessfully in 2007 to replace him as mayor, and 92-year-old Urban Rahoi, the owner of a large mobile home park immediately outside of Fairbanks city limits and a perennial candidate who first ran for a House seat from Fairbanks in 1962, running almost continuously for most of the period between the early 1970s and early 1990s. In the general election, he defeated John S. Brown, who had also unsuccessfully challenged Ramras in 2008.
Personal life
Thompson's first wife, Janel, died of cancer. The Fairbanks North Star Borough named parkland adjacent to the Chena River after her. Thompson married his second wife, Kathleen, in 2009.[3] He has 4 children: Todd, Scott, Natalie and Aaron.[2] Todd, an employee of the Fairbanks North Star Borough, was heavily involved in the political battle in Fairbanks over eliminating emissions testing during the time his father served as mayor.[citation needed]
References
- ^ "Testator (Will) – Summary (4FA-94-00087WI In the Matter of: Thompson, Stephen Max)". CourtView. Alaska Court System. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "Steve M. Thompson – Biography". Project Vote Smart. Philipsburg, Montana. 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ^ a b "Steve Thompson For State House". Fairbanks: Neumuth Advertising. 2010. Archived from the original on October 25, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Election 2001 Advertisement". Interior Taxpayer's Association, Inc. of Fairbanks, Alaska. Fairbanks. 2001. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
External links
Media related to Steve M. Thompson at Wikimedia Commons
- Alaska State Legislature – Representative Steve Thompson official government website
- Campaign web site
- Steve Thompson at 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature
- 1944 births
- Alaska city council members
- Alaska Republicans
- Businesspeople from Fairbanks, Alaska
- Living people
- Mayors of Fairbanks, Alaska
- Members of the Alaska House of Representatives
- People from Cottage Grove, Oregon
- Southern Oregon University alumni
- United States Army soldiers
- 21st-century American politicians