Rep. Tammie Wilson of North Pole has resigned from the House of Representatives.
Wilson made the announcement this afternoon on the House floor, saying that she has taken a job and would need to leave the Legislature to work at the Office of Children’s Services.
She serves House District 3, a conservative part of the state in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Rep. Steve Thompson of Fairbanks was among several representatives who lauded her: “Tammie you are going to be missed in this building, you really are going to be missed in this chamber. You’ve always worked for Fairbanks. You’ve always made sure everything is better for Alaska. You work harder than anyone in this building.”
Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux of Anchorage said, “No matter who it is or what happen caucus you were in at the time, Tammie always told it like it was. I don’t know what you’re going to do at OCS but it can’t help but be a better organization with you there.”
Wilson said that after 10 years of serving in the Legislature and focusing on children in Alaska in terms of policy, “I’m going to give 100 percent of what I have to make sure that we have better families, children are able to grow up where they need to, and when families just hit a bump in the road, we’re able to say, ‘Hey, we’re your community, and we’re going to help you through those spots.”
“I don’t think we need more legislation, I think we need to fix the problem, follow the policies and procedures,” she said.
Her departure will allow Gov. Mike Dunleavy to appoint his third legislator. He appointed Rep. Sharon Jackson and Sen. Josh Revak in 2019. Both of them will have to run for their seats this year.
Whomever Dunleavy appoints to the North Pole seat will need to be confirmed by House Republicans. And then that person will have to run for the seat this year.
