The Alaska Republican Party said on Sunday that it will be asking the Division of Elections for a recount of the votes on Ballot Measure 2, which gave Alaskans the option of repealing ranked-choice voting.
Although dark money from Outside Alaska overwhelmed proponents of the repeal, it ended up failing to be repealed by just 664 votes, a tiny margin.
Of the 320,574 votes cast on the measure, the margin of “No” votes to “Yes” votes was 50.1% to 49.9%. The state must cover the costs of a recount when the margin is this close.
“We will submit this request, along with the names of the requisite Alaskan voters required to initiate this process, once the election is certified, which is scheduled for November 30, 2024,” said the statement issued by the Alaska Republican Party.
The party has hired the Dhillon Law Group, led by Harmeet K. Dhillon, to be on the ground during the recount and review, along with Alaska-based party counsel and observers.
“Ms. Dhillon and her firm are a nationally recognized, seasoned election integrity legal team, and bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this recount process. Ms. Dhillon is an expert in election law. She and her colleagues Michael Columbo and Mark Meuser were recently on the legal teams in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and other crucial locations nationally to ensure a fair, transparent, and thorough process,” said Party Chairwoman Carmela Warfield. “Our Party Counsel, Ms. Stacey Stone and her team, are experienced Alaskan election law practitioners, and in September 2024, they successfully intervened on the Alaska Republican Party’s behalf in the case of Alaska Democratic Party v. State of Alaska Division of Elections, ultimately prevailing in the Alaska Supreme Court.”
In politics, as in sports, bench strength matters. As players come and go, teams can shift from championship to obscurity in one season, or vice versa. Republicans now hold the White House and, narrowly and temporarily, Congress.
Alaska’s political bench is ready for play, but the season is short.
Most voters no longer identify with a political party, but even those who do register with a party occupy different places on the spectrum of political thought depending on the issue. Voters’ views range from very liberal to very conservative, often regardless of which party they’re in.
Some of the 146,661 Alaskans registered with the Republican Party embrace Ronald Reagan’s “big tent” ideal, meaning they accommodate a range of views on the “right” side of the political spectrum.
Different views within a Party deserve their share of representation so we can keep the tent big. Elections are won by addition and multiplication, not by subtraction and division. It’s why since her first statewide election in November 2004, Lisa Murkowski has had my support. While saying so has made me a heretic to some, I have also voted for Nick Begich every time I had the chance.
The only way for Republican or Democratic candidates to win elections in Alaska is to enlist the support of independent voters. Lisa Murkowski figured that out early on. She gets most independents and quite a few Democrats – many of whom are loathe to cast their ballots for a Republican – to do just that.
That’s been good for Alaska, because it’s helped the Republican Party hold power against the extreme tendencies of the Democratic Party that perennially tries to completely lock up our state. Remember, without Lisa we almost certainly wouldn’t have scored wins like the Kensington Mine, ANWR, and CD-5 and Willow in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. These are practical realities, and they matter.
But there are limits. What Lisa could not do in 2024 is convince all of her supporters to vote for Mary Peltola.
Perhaps the electorate looked deeper and decided another skill set would enhance our small delegation. Or maybe voters thought Alaska would be best served if our lone representative in the U.S House was aligned with their choice for president. (55% of Alaska voters chose Donald Trump. 41% chose Kamala Harris.)
Whatever the reason 164,000 Alaskans picked Nick, his election to Congress is a win for the most useful sense of the word “diversity.”
Alaska’s population reflects a range of differences that include metrics like age, cultural identity, educational and socioeconomic background, religious beliefs and political worldview.
How does Alaska’s Congressional delegation now measure up on that diversity index?
Start with age. Dan Sullivan just turned 60. Lisa is 67. Nick is 47.
Then consider viewpoint diversity. For the past 22 years in the U.S. Senate, while supporting pro-development projects, Lisa Murkowski has also given voice to Alaska’s large cohort (maybe 41%) of more left-of-center-leaning voters, many of whom prioritize social issues.
Sen. Sullivan’s devotion to military and veterans’ issues, with his State Department and national security experience, has rightly earned him the respect of his peers, plus a national media profile. That’s been good for Alaska and more broadly good for America.
Both Senators Murkowski and Sullivan have been and remain especially devoted to causes and interests that benefit Alaska Indigenous people, their Native corporations, and tribes.
And now, Nick Begich brings a fresh entrepreneurial bent to our delegation. His background in tech, 21st century business success, and modern conservative mindset (think Vivek, not Mitch) add private sector depth and balance to our congressional team.
Because Nick has such intellectual and actuarial capacity, he has the ability to achieve meaningful tenure in Congress, opening the door to Alaska once again gaining seniority in the House of Representatives. Don’t be surprised if he ascends to House Leadership within just a few terms.
With their combined 32 years in Congress, Lisa and Dan should offer the rising Nick Begich friendship, mentorship, and a thick Rolodex of relationships to help him accelerate. Not for his sake, but for Alaska’s.
Our delegation shares a love of state and country and a commitment to the responsible development of Alaska’s resources. It’s that commonality, combined with their diverse strengths, life experiences and yes, differing opinions, that give heft and added value to our new DC team.
Each member of our delegation will play an important role in the 119th Congress, as will our aligned Governor. With all bases covered, we’re seriously positioned for a winning season. There is no time left to look back, and even less time to waste.
Paulette Simpson lives in Juneau and has been politically active for decades.
Thanks to the extended time to count all the ballots, Republican David Nelson beat the incumbent Democrat by 23 votes in House District 18, (Government Hill, JBER in East Anchorage.)
The same thing happened about 40 years ago, allowing my friend Rep. Terry Martin to squeak out a reelection victory.
The margin of victory in both cases was due to overseas absentees, most of them military. The Division of Elections allows extra time in order to allow all these late arriving ballots to be counted. For Republicans, it’s worth the wait.
These are mostly men and women who established Alaska residency while they were stationed here. When they’re transferred overseas, they maintain their Alaska residency. Many of them do this in order to continue their eligibility for Permanent Fund dividends. They all vote in order to bolster their claim to Alaska residency.
Their main issue, unsurprisingly, is the Permanent Fund. Since Republicans have always been the champions of the PFD (initiated by Republican Gov. Jay Hammond in 1980), and Democrats largely hostile, they all vote Republican.
Representative-elect Nelson should send them all a thank you card.
So, let’s stop with all the carping about the long wait. It’s only a problem if the good people at the Division of Elections need the extra time to steal an election. I don’t believe this has ever happened.
Some old-timers claim Gov. Hammond stole the Republican primary election from Wally Hickel in 1978. He only won by 98 votes. His Attorney General, Avrum Gross, was a little slippery, but I don’t believe the election was stolen.
All of us who worked on Hammond’s campaign (including me – I was Chairman of “Hands for Hammond”) like to think that our efforts were responsible for his victory.
And the PFD.
Fritz Pettyjohn’s first venture in politics was working for Barry Goldwater for president in 1964. He served in the Alaska Legislature in the 1980s and writes the blog ReaganProject.com.
Let’s give a nod to RFK Jr.’s nomination as the HHS Secretary and his mission to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) by embracing a healthier way to enjoy pumpkin and other traditional Thanksgiving foods this season.
The harvest’s abundance is on full display at our Thanksgiving tables, as we slow down to spend time with our family and loved ones. While pumpkin pie has become synonymous with the holiday, savory pumpkin recipes are a way to spice up our feast with a nutritious option that complements traditional turkey as well as a variety of alternative main courses.
Including a dish of Roasted Pumpkin, Cranberries, and Pecans is a delicious way to brighten your table with a pop of color that combines our favorite holiday foods. The dish captures the essence of the season, with the pumpkin’s richness balanced by the tartness of the cranberries and the crunchy texture of the pecans.
This Thanksgiving, leave the canned pumpkin and refined sugar behind and opt for a small pumpkin, fresh cranberries, and pecans. Join the MAHA movement and enjoy a savory holiday flavor in a sensational way.
Roasted Pumpkin, Cranberries, and Pecans
Ingredients:
1 small pumpkin (approximately 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 pounds)
1/2 teaspoon of salt (divided as listed below)
1/8 teaspoon or less of nutmeg
1 sprig of fresh rosemary (substitute 1/4 teaspoon of dried rosemary)
1 1/4 cups of fresh cranberries
1 1/2 tablespoons of raw honey
1 cup of pecans
8 tablespoons of butter (divided as listed below)
For garnish if desired:
1 ounce feta cheese
Makes about 8 to 10 side dish servings
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Peel the pumpkin, cut it in half, and remove the seeds. Keep the seeds to roast later for a nutritious snack or salad topping.
Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large roasting pan in the preheated oven.
Cut the pumpkin into bite-sized pieces, approximately 1-inch cubes.
Remove the roasting pan from the oven, add the cubed pumpkin to the pan, and stir to coat the pumpkin with the melted butter.
Season the pumpkin with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and approximately 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg.
Place the seasoned cubed pumpkin cubes into the oven and roast at 400°F for 35 minutes.
Rinse the cranberries, drain them, and place them into a small bowl.
Drizzle the cranberries with the raw honey, gently toss to coat evenly, and set aside.
After 35 minutes in the oven, remove the roasted pumpkin and gently turn over the cubes with a spatula in the roasting pan.
Place the drizzled cranberries over the pumpkins.
Remove the leaves from the sprig of rosemary and place on top of the pumpkin and cranberries.
Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan on medium heat. Add the pecans and stir to coat with the butter.
Spoon the pecans evenly over the top of the pumpkin and cranberries and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
Turn the oven down to 350°F.
Place the dish back into the oven and roast for an additional 25 to 30 minutes until the roasted pumpkin is soft and the pecans start to toast.
Remove from the oven and garnish with small crumbles of feta cheese (optional).
Serve and enjoy.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Ingredients:
Fresh pumpkin seeds from a small pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon and two or more pinches of salt
1 quart of water
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Separate pumpkin seeds from the flesh of the pumpkin and rinse well to clean the seeds.
Create a brine by combining one quart of water with half a teaspoon of salt.
Soak the pumpkin seeds for 15 minutes in the brine.
Rinse the pumpkin seeds with fresh water and drain well in a mesh strainer, shaking off all excess moisture.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the seeds out into a single layer.
Sprinkle with two pinches of salt.
Roast for 50 minutes to one hour until the seeds are crispy and tasty.
Enjoy it as a snack or use it as a topping for salads and other foods.
Brenda Josephson is a Haines resident. She is an accounting and tax professional, real estate agent, professionally trained chef, and advocate for good governance. She spends her time fishing, foraging, and savoring Alaska’s abundance of natural and wild foods with her family.
Elections have consequences and although Alaskans favored President Donald Trump in the November general elections, the Democrats flipped three seats in the Alaska House from red to blue, enough for them to assert that they have control, with the help of two breakaway Republicans.
Alaskans can expect a lot of radical legislation to be passed by the House in 2025, and at least some of it will get through the Democrat-controlled Senate and make it to the governor’s desk. They may also see spending so high that it erodes their Alaska Permanent Fund dividend even further, as one of the big initiatives of the group is to bring back defined benefits for public employees.
According to the Democrat caucus that has the turncoat Republicans, it’s a done deal. The group released the names of committee chairs for the coming two-year legislative session.
Here are the members who will be in charge of the House when Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom gavels it in on Jan. 17, 2025:
Speaker Bryce Edgmon
Majority Leader Chuck Kopp
Rules Committee Chair Louise Stutes
Majority Whip Zack Fields
House Finance Committee Co-chairs Neal Foster, Andy Josephson, and Calvin Schrage, with Sara Hannan, Alyse Galvin, and Nellie Jimmie as members from the Democrat caucus.
Natural Resource Committee Co-chairs Maxine Dibert and Robyn Burke.
Education Committee Co-chairs Andi Story and Rebecca Himshoot.
Energy Committee Co-chairs Donna Mears and Ky Holland.
State Affairs Committee ChairAshley Carrick.
Health and Social Services Committee Chair Genevieve Mina.
Labor and Commerce Committee Chairs Zack Fields and Carolyn Hall.
Community and Regional Affairs Committee Co-Chairs Donna Mears and Rebecca Himshoot.
Judiciary Committee Chair Andrew Gray.
Transportation Committee Co-chairs Ted Eischeid and Ashley Carrick.
Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Ted Eischeid.
Joint Armed Services Committee ChairAndrew Gray.
Fisheries Committee ChairLouise Stutes.
Tribal Affairs Committee Co-chairs Bryce Edgmon and Maxine Dibert.
Gray Television’s recent move to yank the plug on KTVF’s local news broadcast brings an untimely and regrettable end to decades of award-winning news programming delivered to viewers across much of Interior Alaska. There is no other way to paint this pig other than to say it’s a damn shame an Outside company 4,000 miles away can turn its back on Fairbanks – as if it’s nothing.
Fairbanks is not nothing.
Airwaves are a publicly owned asset. As such, broadcasters are required to meet certain regulatory standards. In fact, a broadcast license cannot be owned. It only gives the holder the right to use a particular frequency to carry a signal. Notably, the licensee must operate in service to the “public interest, convenience and necessity” per FCC rules and regulations. If the licensee is deemed to have substantially violated the public’s interest, the FCC can revoke the broadcaster’s license.
But, apparently times have changed.
It used to be broadcasters took their public-interest responsibility seriously since the financial consequences of violating the terms of their license could be catastrophic. Furthermore, broadcast licenses were not granted in perpetuity. So, the FCC held a high hammer over the broadcaster’s head, especially during the periodic renewal process. To qualify for renewal, licensees were obligated to submit material evidence supporting their compliance with the public-interest standard, among other hoops.
How was this accomplished?
A common and effective approach was to create programing of particular interest to their community, such as local news. Back in the day, I recall Hank Hove hosting a show in March or early April featuring a local tax specialist answering viewer questions. Such programming exemplified operating in the public interest. Of course, this was a time when community opinion mattered to the FCC, so it also mattered to the broadcaster. As noted, it seems times have changed. Does the FCC even care or still matter today?
For Hank, KTVF’s local news programming was critical to sustaining the station’s long-term viability. Even when network ratings were in a down cycle, KTVF maintained competitive separation over the course of several decades (dating back to the early 1980s) due to continuous investments made in local news. He loved returning home from industry tradeshows with some new whiz-bang gadget that would elevate KTVF’s news production ever closer to how the big dogs do it.
Of course, on-air talent was always key. Many successful anchors and reporters started their careers in Fairbanks. Some even stayed. I’ve had my favorites over the years, but Ann Secrest and Mike Shultz will always be top shelf. In the early days, Hank even took a couple turns at the anchor desk. This was before KTVF had teleprompters.
I’ll acknowledge any bias, but I recall he did a better than fair job memorizing copy on deadline, especially considering this was not his regular function at the station.
In any event, it’s difficult to reconcile how a licensee can drop local news programming in favor of a relevance-challenged substitute imported from hundreds of miles away while still operating within the FCC’s long-established public-interest standard. Clearly, Gray Television doesn’t give a damn about Fairbanks. By the way, if Gray’s pull-the-plug strategy proves successful, how long can Anchorage last?
Hank Hove’s son Brian is a UAF business graduate and a 44-year resident of Alaska. Brian and his wife Marilyn currently reside in Anchorage, but look forward to a day when they can once again call Fairbanks home.
It has been interesting to see the objections to the appointment of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence.
These really are the objections of a failed and unaccountable agency that has done serious harm to our nation. If there ever was a need for someone outside the intelligence agencies to hold it accountable, it is now. I will provide many specific examples.
But before that, let’s remember that she is a friend of Alaska.
In 2020, the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska invited the 351st Civil Affairs Command of Hawaii to Unalaska for assistance with infrastructure as an Innovative Readiness Training operation.
As part of the team, Lt. Colonel Tulsi Gabbard answered the call and made the trip to Alaska to help. This commitment was near to my heart since Unalaska was my home town for many years and I was the mayor there from 1986 to 1991 as we built it into the number one fishing port in the United States.
During her stay here, she met many Alaskans who were impressed with her military experience and her straitforward and down to earth approach. Her military career is immense. From 2004 to 2005 she served as an Army specialist in the 29th Infantry Combat Team in Iraq. In 2007 she attended the Alabama Military Officers Academy where she was top of her class and in 2021 was promoted to Lt. Colonel during an assignment in the Horn of Africa. She also was elected to Congress where she was directly involved in the issues of national security and the interface of political forces at work on these issues.
In light of her current nomination as Director of National Intelligence, why does this matter? It matters because beyond showing her brave and immense accomplishments, she saw first hand the end result of the assessments and operations of the intelligence agencies. And it wasn’t the agents sitting behind a desk, watching from a satellite or drone feed, it was the soldiers on the ground who were giving their lives for their country.
This is why the failures of the intelligence community over the years is so maddening. And I am sure that this motivates Tulsi Gabbard to ensure they do not continue. The list of failures is overwhelming.
In 1964 the National Security Agency fabricated a completely false report of a Vietnamese attack on the USS Maddox, which led President Lyndon Johnson to escalate a land war in Vietnam with US troops, eventually 500,000 of them. Some 50,000 of our own soldiers were killed, many more crippled and three million Vietnamese ended up dead. They were no real threat to us and today they are our ally in the region. For details, please read the Pentagon Papers, released by our Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel.
We also witnessed the false claims of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, causing an armed conflict with many U.S casualties and costing billions of dollars. The failure to detect the 9/11 attack was more recent. Then the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi, which led to an openly terrorist Libyan state in the region. Then the failure to detect the attack on the Libyan embassy, falsely blaming it on a video release. Then the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan and needless killing of US soldiers. Then the fake FAISA warrants used to spy on the Trump campaign.
And perhaps the most egregious was the signing of a letter by 51 former intelligence officials, claiming that the laptop of Hunter Biden was Russian propaganda. President Joe Biden then use it in his debate with President Trump. This, despite the fact that the FBI had known for two years that the laptop was real.
How many more examples do we need to see that these agencies need serious management from someone who isn’t part of the problem? Whether these failures were due to incompetence or were deliberate actions to manipulate our political leaders and the American public, they need to be addressed before we send any more of our best and brightest men and women off to unnecessary wars where there is no real plan or end game. We have been doing this for the past thirty years and it needs to stop.
Because of her legitimate questions about the Ukraine war, her opponents claim she is a front for Vladimir Putin. This is based on an interview she gave on YouTube when asked about Zelenskyy’s claim that the war was about defending democracy, while demanding $60 billion of U.S. funding. She pointed out that he had called off elections after the end of his term, had jailed his political opponent, had outlawed the opposing political parties, had closed down all media that was not supportive of him and then started attacking the Russian Orthodox Church. Sound like democracy?
This isn’t Russian propaganda, it is the truth, easily verifiable by a simple internet search.
I truly believe former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is the person to straighten all this out. It is sickening to see how her patriotism is being questioned by people who have never looked down the barrel of a gun. She will be a protector of our true national security.
Paul Fuhs grew up in Anchorage, attending Denali Elementary, Central Junior High and graduated from West High in 1967. He was enlisted in US Army Military Intelligence, MOS 97 Delta, and a North Vietnamese linguist during the Vietnam War era, 1969-1971.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski was one of four Republicans who were hard no’s on the appointment of Rep. Matt Gaetz as Attorney General. She didn’t need an FBI report on him; she just said he was not a “serious candidate.”
But in a walk-and-talk interview with a reporter, she has now indicated that she won’t vote to confirm any of Trump’s nominations unless they all get a thorough background check by the FBI.
You know, the same FBI that raided the late Sen. Ted Stevens home in Girdwood in 2007 on a witch-hunt that later proved to be a case of government weaponized against a political figure; the same FBI that kicked down the door of a couple in Homer, Alaska in 2021, looking in vain for then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s laptop computer.
The background check is not an absolute requirement, but Murkowski’s words indicate she believes it to be necessary to dig into every aspect of their personal lives. That’s what they open themselves up to, she said.
President Donald Trump has already indicated that not all his appointees need to go through a FBI background check. On Truth Social on Nov. 10, he wrote, “Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner.”
The constitutionally permitted recess appointment process is when a president appoints people temporarily to positions when the Senate is in recess. The appointments then are in effect until the end of the following legislative session.
Sen. John Thune will be serving as Senate majority leader. Rep. Michael Johnson is House Speaker. They would have to both agree to a late January recess.
Trump understands the challenges he faces, having been there before. Only 25 nominees have ever been sent to the Senate and failed confirmation, either by withdrawing their names or being rejected. Three of the 25 were in the first Trump term — 12% of the total.
The Trump transition team has not yet signed documents with the existing administration that would authorize the Justice Department to screen his choices that require the Senate’s consent.
BREAKING: Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski says she will not approve any Trump nominee unless they are thoroughly vetted by the FBI. pic.twitter.com/ETeb1SswQZ
In other news relating to Murkowski leading “the resistance” to the Trump presidency, she and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine this week voted for Biden’s judicial nominees that the Democrats are ramming through before Jan. 20. They were the only Republicans to do so, helping to seat judges that will support Biden’s and the Democrats’ agenda for lifetime appointments.
In September of 2020, Murkowski was on record opposing the confirmation of any Trump appointee to the Supreme Court that close to the November elections (which she hoped he would lose).
“For weeks, I have stated that I would not support taking up a potential Supreme Court vacancy this close to the election. Sadly, what was then a hypothetical is now our reality, but my position has not changed,” Murkowski said in a statement.
Weeks later, she changed her mind and voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
A $2 million donation from ConocoPhillips Alaska to the Ted Stevens Foundation will help create the Alaska Leaders Archive at the UAA/APU Consortium Library, the University of Alaska Anchorage announced this week.
The Alaska Leaders Archive project was launched in 2023 with the gift of the records of the late Sen. Ted Stevens to UAA by the Ted Stevens Foundation. The Stevens collection is one of the largest congressional archives in history, documenting the transition of Alaska from a territory to a state and the important legislative accomplishments of Stevens during his 4 decades in the Senate. His work shaped policy in ways that continue to impact the state and the nation today. At the time he left office, Stevens was the longest-serving Republican U.S. senator in history.
“We are excited to partner with the Ted Stevens Foundation as a lead donor to preserve and share our state’s history through the Alaska Leaders Archive,” said ConocoPhillips Alaska President Erec Isaacson. “This is an opportunity to equip future generations of Alaskans with the historical foundation to understand the challenges, triumphs, and lessons of those who came before them. ConocoPhillips Alaska is proud to be part of this significant project, which will empower future leaders and ensure that Alaska’s rich history is preserved for years to come.”
The collection showcases Stevens’ commitment to key issues in Alaska and the nation, including energy, education, healthcare, communications, Indigenous rights for Alaska Natives, amateur sports, Title IX, infrastructure, military, the Arctic, and much more.
The Stevens collection will serve as the cornerstone of the Alaska Leaders Archive, which includes historical collections totaling more than 7,000 boxes from more than 130 Alaska leaders, elected officials, and community figures.
“The Alaska Leaders Archive will provide a window into the leadership and decision making that shaped Alaska’s history,” said UAA Chancellor Sean Parnell, who was governor of Alaska when Stevens tragically died in a plane crash. “Their legacy has a great deal to teach our students and future generations of Arctic leaders.”
In collaboration with the Ted Stevens Foundation, UAA plans to renovate and expand the UAA/APU Consortium Library to house the Alaska Leaders Archive.
“Senator Stevens was a strong believer that challenges could only be solved by bringing different voices and perspectives together. The Alaska Leaders Archive brings together the rich history of that collaboration and we hope it encourages leadership in the same spirit,” said Lily Becker, daughter of Sen. Stevens, who is president of the Ted Stevens Foundation.
The creation of the Alaska Leaders Archive will involve multi-phase construction and renovation at the UAA/APU Consortium Library. The completed project will include the addition of state-of-the-art archival facilities, a teaching area, and space to display items from these important collections.
Stevens served for six decades in the public sector, starting with his service in World War II as a U.S. Army pilot, flying C-46 and C-47 transport planes in the Pacific Theatre. In the 1950s, he moved to Fairbanks to practice law and was appointed U.S. Attorney by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 1956, he worked in the Eisenhower Interior Department, where he became the senior counsel and solicitor. He is credited for his role in winning over Eisenhower to the idea of statehood for Alaska. He was elected a state representative in 1964 and elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968.
Stevens survived a witch hunt by a weaponized Department of Justice. Because of the devious actions of prosecutors who hid exculpatory evidence, he was convicted just days before the 2008 election, which he lost. He was later exonerated, and the prosecutors were publicly called out for their reckless professional misconduct, but they were never fired from the Department of Justice for their misdeeds. Stevens died in a plane crash Aug. 9, 2010 in Western Alaska.
