List of Governors of Alaska

Governor of Alaska
Incumbent
Sean Parnell
since July 26, 2009
Residence Alaska Governor's Mansion
Term length Four years, max two consecutive terms
Inaugural holder William A. Egan
Formation January 3, 1959
Deputy Craig Campbell
Salary $125,000 (2009)[1]
Website gov.state.ak.us

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), 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]

Nine people have served as governor of the State of Alaska over 11 distinct terms, though Alaska had over 30 civilian and military governors during its long history as a United States territory. Two people, William Allen 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 served nearly 12 years in his two non-consecutive terms. The longest-serving territorial governor was Ernest Gruening, who served 13½ years.

The current governor is Sean Parnell, who took office on July 26, 2009, following the resignation of Sarah Palin.

Contents

Governors

Governor of Alaska's office at the Alaska State Capitol
Jefferson C. Davis, first commander of the Department of Alaska
Alfred P. Swineford, second governor of the District of Alaska
Ernest Gruening, seventh governor of Alaska Territory, and one of the first two U.S. senators from Alaska
Wally Hickel, second and eighth governor of Alaska, and 38th United States Secretary of the Interior
Jay Hammond, fifth governor of Alaska
Sarah Palin, eleventh governor of Alaska and 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee

Alaska was purchased by the United States from Russia 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 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 Took office Left office
United States Army
1 Brevet Major General Jefferson C. Davis October 18, 1867 August 31, 1870
2 Brevet Lieutenant Colonel 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 Captain George R. Rodney April 21, 1874 August 16, 1874
7 Capt. Joseph B. Campbell August 17, 1874 June 14, 1876
8 Capt. 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 Mottrom D. Ball March 27, 1878 June 13, 1879
United States Navy
13 Capt. Lester A. Beardslee June 14, 1879 September 12, 1880
14 Commander 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 B. Coghlan September 15, 1883 September 13, 1884
20 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 Took office Left office Appointed by
Kinkead, John HenryJohn Henry Kinkead 01884-07-04 July 4, 1884 01885-05-07 May 7, 1885 Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur
Swineford, Alfred P.Alfred P. Swineford 01885-05-07 May 7, 1885 01889-04-20 April 20, 1889 Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
Knapp, Lyman EnosLyman Enos Knapp 01889-04-20 April 20, 1889 01893-06-18 June 18, 1893 Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison
Sheakley, JamesJames Sheakley 01893-06-18 June 18, 1893 01897-06-23 June 23, 1897 Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
Brady, John GreenJohn Green Brady 01897-06-23 June 23, 1897 01906-03-02 March 2, 1906[note 1] McKinley, WilliamWilliam McKinley
Hoggatt, Wilford BaconWilford Bacon Hoggatt 01906-03-02 March 2, 1906 01909-05-20 May 20, 1909 Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt
Clark, Walter EliWalter Eli Clark 01909-05-20 May 20, 1909 01913-04-18 April 18, 1913 Taft, William HowardWilliam 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. During World War II, parts of the Aleutian Islands were occupied by Imperial Japan from June 5, 1942, to June 28, 1943.

Governor Took office Left office Appointed by Notes
Strong, John Franklin AlexanderJohn Franklin Alexander Strong 01913-04-18 April 18, 1913 01918-04-12 April 12, 1918 Wilson, WoodrowWoodrow Wilson [note 2]
Riggs, Jr., Thomas ChristmasThomas Christmas Riggs, Jr. 01918-04-12 April 12, 1918 01921-06-16 June 16, 1921 Wilson, WoodrowWoodrow Wilson
Bone, Scott CordelleScott Cordelle Bone 01921-06-16 June 16, 1921 01925-08-16 August 16, 1925 Harding, Warren G.Warren G. Harding
Parks, George AlexanderGeorge Alexander Parks 01925-08-16 August 16, 1925 01933-04-19 April 19, 1933 Coolidge, CalvinCalvin Coolidge
Troy, John WeirJohn Weir Troy 01933-04-19 April 19, 1933 01939-12-06 December 6, 1939 Roosevelt, Franklin DelanoFranklin Delano Roosevelt
Gruening, ErnestErnest Gruening 01939-12-06 December 6, 1939 01953-04-10 April 10, 1953 Roosevelt, Franklin DelanoFranklin Delano Roosevelt [note 3]
Heintzleman, Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin Heintzleman 01953-04-10 April 10, 1953 01957-01-03 January 3, 1957 Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower [note 4]
Hendrickson, Waino EdwardWaino Edward Hendrickson 01957-01-03 January 3, 1957 01957-04-08 April 8, 1957 acting [note 5]
Stepovich, Michael AnthonyMichael Anthony Stepovich 01957-04-08 April 8, 1957 01958-08-09 August 9, 1958 Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower [note 6]
Hendrickson, Waino EdwardWaino Edward Hendrickson 01958-08-09 August 9, 1958 01959-01-03 January 3, 1959 acting [note 5]

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.[12] 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.[13] Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor assumes the title of governor.[14] 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.[15]

There have been six governors from the Republican Party, five from the Democratic Party, and one, Wally Hickel, who was elected under the Alaskan Independence Party during his second period in office. Many Republicans were unhappy with the choice of Arliss Sturgulewski as their party's candidate for governor in the 1990 election, and Hickel was able to attract their votes. However, he never held the AIP's secessionist ideals, and switched back to the Republican Party eight months before his term ended.

      Democratic (5)       Republican (6)       Alaskan Independence (1)
(official numbering)[note 7]

# Governor Term start Term end Party Lieutenant Governor
[note 8]		 Terms
[note 9]
1   William A. Egan January 3, 1959 December 5, 1966 Democratic   Hugh Wade 2
2 Wally Hickel December 5, 1966 January 29, 1969 Republican Keith Miller 1⁄2
[note 10]
3 Keith Miller January 29, 1969 December 7, 1970 Republican Robert W. Ward 1⁄2
[note 11]
4 William A. Egan December 7, 1970 December 2, 1974 Democratic H. A. "Red" Boucher 1
5 Jay Hammond December 2, 1974 December 6, 1982 Republican Lowell Thomas, Jr. 2
Terry Miller
6 Bill Sheffield December 6, 1982 December 1, 1986 Democratic Stephen McAlpine 1
7 Steve Cowper December 1, 1986 December 3, 1990 Democratic Stephen McAlpine 1
8 Wally Hickel December 3, 1990 December 5, 1994 Alaskan Independence Jack Coghill 1
[note 12]
Republican
9 Tony Knowles December 5, 1994 December 2, 2002 Democratic Fran Ulmer 2
10 Frank Murkowski December 2, 2002 December 4, 2006 Republican Loren Leman 1
11 Sarah Palin December 4, 2006 July 26, 2009 Republican Sean Parnell 1⁄2
[note 13]
12 Sean Parnell July 26, 2009 Incumbent Republican Craig Campbell
[note 14]		 1⁄2
[note 15]
[note 16]

Other high offices held

Five of Alaska's governors have served other high offices, including a U.S. Secretary of the Interior, a Governor of Nevada, and three members of the U.S. Congress, although only two represented Alaska. One (marked with *) resigned his office to be the Secretary of the Interior, and one (marked with †) resigned his position as senator to take office as governor.

Governor Gubernatorial term Other offices held Source
Kinkead, John HenryJohn Henry Kinkead 1884–1885 Governor of Nevada [21]
Sheakley, JamesJames Sheakley 1893–1897 U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania [22]
Gruening, ErnestErnest Gruening 1939–1953 U.S. Senator from Alaska [23]
Hickel, WallyWally Hickel 1966–1969, 1990–1994 U.S. Secretary of the Interior* [24]
Murkowski, FrankFrank Murkowski 2002–2006 U.S. Senator from Alaska† [25]

Living former governors

As of August 2010, seven former governors were alive, including Michael Anthony Stepovich, the last living pre-statehood governor in the United States. The most recent death of a former governor was that of Wally Hickel (1966–1969, 1990–1994), who died on May 7, 2010.

Governor Term in office Date of birth
Michael Anthony Stepovich 1957–1958 March 12, 1919 (1919-03-12) (age 91)
Keith Miller 1969–1970 March 1, 1925 (1925-03-01) (age 85)
Bill Sheffield 1982–1986 June 26, 1928 (1928-06-26) (age 82)
Steve Cowper 1986–1990 August 21, 1938 (1938-08-21) (age 72)
Tony Knowles 1994–2002 January 1, 1943 (1943-01-01) (age 68)
Frank Murkowski 2002–2006 March 28, 1933 (1933-03-28) (age 77)
Sarah Palin 2006–2009 February 11, 1964 (1964-02-11) (age 47)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Forced to resign due to his involvement with the fraudulent Reynolds–Alaska Development Company.[7]
  2. ↑ Resigned; was asked to resign after it was discovered he was still a Canadian citizen.[8]
  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.[9]
  4. ↑ Resigned; was reportedly unhappy with the job, and did not expect to be reappointed.[10]
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 As secretary of Alaska, acted as governor[11]
  6. ↑ Resigned to run for U.S. Senate, losing that election[11]
  7. ↑ The official numbering includes repeat governors. Hickel's second term is counted only as a member of the AIP as that is what he was elected under.
  8. ↑ The office of lieutenant governor was named secretary of state until 1970.[15]
  9. ↑ The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
  10. ↑ Resigned to become United States Secretary of the Interior
  11. ↑ As secretary of state, filled unexpired term
  12. ↑ Hickel was elected as a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, and switched to the Republican party in April 1994.[16]
  13. ↑ Resigned, citing ethics investigations.[17]
  14. ↑ Campbell's position was termed "Temporary Substitute Lieutenant Governor[18] until he was confirmed by the Alaska Legislature on August 10, 2009.[19]
  15. ↑ Governor Parnell's interim term expires December 6, 2010; he is running for a full term.[20]
  16. ↑ As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.

References

General
Constitution
Specific
  1. ↑ "Alaska Statutes Title 39. Chapter 20. Section 10. Annual Salary of Governor". 2009 Alaska Statutes. Alaska Legal Resource Center. http://touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title39/Chapter20/Section010.htm. Retrieved July 3, 2010. 
  2. ↑ AK Const. art. II, § 15
  3. ↑ AK Const. art. III
  4. ↑ "State Symbols". Alaska Office of Economic Development. http://www.dced.state.ak.us/oed/student_info/student.htm. Retrieved August 26, 2008. 
  5. ↑ Gates p. 86
  6. ↑ Ruskin, Liz (2002-12-20). "Barking up the wrong Pole: Hero wasn't governor". Anchorage Daily News. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/wbkrzyzanowski.htm. Retrieved August 26, 2008. 
  7. ↑ Janson, Lone (1975). The Copper Spike. Alaska Northwest Publishing Co.. p. 44. ISBN 0882400452. 
  8. ↑ Gruening, Ernest (1973). Many Battles: The Autobiography of Ernest Gruening. Liveright. p. 216. ISBN 0871405652. 
  9. ↑ Personal Justice Denied: Report of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. University of Washington Press. 1997. p. 319. ISBN 029597558X. http://books.google.com/?id=7r3U_KuP_Q0C. 
  10. ↑ Naske, Claus-M. (1985). A History of Alaska Statehood. University Press of America. p. 244. ISBN 0819145564. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Naske, Claus-M.; Herman E. Slotnick (1979). Alaska: A History of the 49th State. Eerdmans. p. 309. ISBN 0802870414. 
  12. ↑ AK Const. art. III, § 4
  13. ↑ AK Const. art. III, § 5
  14. ↑ AK Const. art. III, § 11
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Article 3 – The Executive". The Alaska Constitution. Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska. http://ltgov.state.ak.us/services/constitution.php?section=3. Retrieved August 2, 2010. 
  16. ↑ "Alaska's Gov. Hickel Rejoins Gop Amid Speculation Over Another Term". The Seattle Times. April 15, 1994. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19940415&slug=1905548. Retrieved September 28, 2008. 
  17. ↑ Cockerham, Sean (July 7, 2009). "Palin says ethics investigations were paralyzing". Anchorage Daily News. http://www.adn.com/palin/story/855907.html. 
  18. ↑ "Campbell Becomes Temporary Substitute LG". State of Alaska. July 26, 2009. http://ltgov.alaska.gov/campbell/lieutenant-governor/full-press-release.html?pr=5. Retrieved August 2, 2010. 
  19. ↑ "House Journal, Alaska State Legislature, Twenty-Sixth Legislature, First Special Session". State of Alaska. August 10, 2009. http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_single_journal.asp?session=26&date=20090810&beg_page=1247&end_page=1258&chamber=H. Retrieved December 17, 2009. 
  20. ↑ "Is Palin retiring, or running for president in 2012?". CTV News Channel. July 4, 2009. 
  21. ↑ "Nevada Governor John Henry Kinkead". National Governor's Association. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=e68c2243a15a7010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD. Retrieved August 14, 2008. 
  22. ↑ "Sheakley, James". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000313. Retrieved August 13, 2008. 
  23. ↑ "Gruening, Ernest". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000508. Retrieved August 13, 2008. 
  24. ↑ "Alaska Governor Walter J. Hickel". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=1307ae3effb81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD. Retrieved October 15, 2008. 
  25. ↑ "Murkowski, Frank Hughes". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M001085. Retrieved August 13, 2008. 

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