Loren Leman

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Loren Leman (born December 2, 1950) former Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, the first person of Alaska Native ancestry to be elected to statewide office in Alaska and a member of the Republican Party. Leman served in the Alaska Legislature from 1989 to 2002 as a Senator for west Anchorage.

Leman grew up in Ninilchik where he graduated from high school. He received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Oregon State University and a master's in civil/environmental engineering from Stanford University. Later he studied Arctic engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

He has three children with his wife, Carolyn.

[edit] Lieutenant governor

Leman and Governor Frank Murkowski were not always in agreement; in 2004 Leman endorsed conservative Republican Mike Miller, the primary opponent of Murkowski's daughter, Senator Lisa Murkowski. Leman felt Lisa Murkowski was less conservative than Miller, though he endorsed her for the general election after she won the primary. Miller ran a spirited campaign against Murkowski, but in the end was outspent more than 10 to 1 and was defeated. There was some speculation that Leman might run for governor in 2006, either challenging Frank Murkowski in the primary or running for an open seat if Murkowski retired. Leman planned an announcement in February 2006, but postponed the news to talk more to his family about the decision. In May 2006, Murkowski announced his plans to run for reelection. A few days later, Leman declined a run for the office (saying Murkowski's decision was only one of many factors) and also opted out of a second term as lieutenant governor. Republicans Jerry Ward and Sean Parnell challenged each other for the seat that Leman will leave vacant, with Parnell winning the primary.

While Leman chose to not challenge Governor Murkowski, former Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin and businessman John Binkley both ran against the Governor in the Republican primary election, with Palin winning the position of governor with Sean Parnell as her lieutenant governor.

[edit] Footnotes

Sutton, Anne. "Lt. Gov Leman will not run or seek re-election". Associated Press. May 30, 2006 [1] (on Leman's decision not to run and on his differences with Frank Murkowski.)