The Alaska Democratic Party has appointed Jenny-Marie Stryker as its new executive director, succeeding Lindsay Kavanaugh, who had served in the role since 2019. Kavanaugh left in January for a job with an Anchorage-based public employee union, APEA-AFT.
Stryker has a background in political organizing, communications, and journalism. She previously worked as the political director for the Alaska Center (for the Environment), and worked on campaigns for the Ship Creek Group, a leftist political consulting firm based in Anchorage.
Stryker was a briefly an intern reporter at the Chilkat Valley News in Haines. She came to Alaska in 2017 with a leftist program run by former Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a Democrat in Sitka.
Her appointment marks a new chapter for the party following the departure of Kavanaugh, who faced legal issues in July 2022. Kavanaugh was arrested near Soldotna and charged with three misdemeanors: driving under the influence (DUI), refusing a chemical breath test, and fifth-degree criminal mischief for unplugging Alaska State Trooper equipment during her arrest. She was detained at the Wildwood pretrial facility in Kenai and later released. Prosecutors dismissed two charges, and she pled guilty to refusing a breath test.
At the time, then-party chair Mike Wenstrup expressed disappointment but supported Kavanaugh, praising her performance and expressing confidence in her continued leadership.
Before Kavanaugh, the party had Jay Parmley as its executive director. Parmley served from 2016 to 2019. His hiring in 2016 sparked controversy because Parmley had been accused of sexual harassment by another male staffer while he was executive director of the North Carolina Democratic Party in 2012. Parmley resigned and took the job in Alaska. In a 2012 story by The Daily Caller, a reported claim from an ex-girlfriend, possibly a former student, alleged that Parmley infected her with HIV.
The current party chair, Eric Croft has voiced strong support for Stryker.
A background in community organizing, communications, and journalism. That’s all that needs to be said.
There’s a term for a female donkey.
Princess Lisa?
Thought maybe Princess loaned out one of her staff.