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House, Senate organize; count continues
Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
As the vote count from the Nov. 4 general election proceeds, Republican Congressman Don Young solidified his lead over former House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz, a Democrat, to retain his seat as Alaska’s representative in the U.S. House.
On Nov. 12 the lead flipped for the U.S. Senate, with Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, a Democrat, moving from some 3,000 votes behind to some 800 votes ahead in his effort to unseat long-term Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.
While the state continues to count votes, majorities have organized in both the Alaska House and Senate; House Democrats are waiting for final results.
The Senate has formed another bipartisan majority organization, with 10 Democrats and three Republicans; by party the Senate is split with 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans.
Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, will be Senate president; Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, will be Senate majority leader; and Charlie Huggins, R-Rural Mat-Su/Chugiak will chair the Senate Rules Committee.
Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, and Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, will return as co-chairs of Senate Finance.
Remaining committee chairmanships and assignments were not announced.
Republicans held a 21-19 margin in the House Nov. 12, although fewer than 100 votes separated Republican incumbent Mike Kelly and his Fairbanks Democratic challenger, Karl Kassel, in House District 7 (4,771 to 4,739). Republican committee assignments include Richard Foster, D-Nome, who organized with the Republicans.
Chenault House speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, is the new House Speaker and Kyle Johansen, R-Ketchikan, is the new Majority Leader. John Coghill, R-North Pole, is Rules chair.
For joint House-Senate committees, House Republicans named John Harris, R-Valdez, the former speaker, to chair the Legislative Council and Nancy Dahlstrom, R-Anchorage/Military/Eagle River as vice chairwoman of Legislative Budget and Audit.
House Finance has new co-chairs, with Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage, and Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak/Mat-Su, replacing Chenault and Kevin Meyer, who was elected to the Senate.
Bill Thomas, R-Haines, replaces Stoltze as vice-chair; Foster, Kelly, Anna Fairclough, R-Eagle River and Alan Austerman, R-Kodiak, are the other Finance members named by the Republicans.
Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks, is Judiciary chair; Mark Neuman, R-Susitna Valley, and Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, are the co-chairs of Resources; Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage, is chair of State Affairs; Kurt Olson, R-Soldotna, is chair of Labor & Commerce; Peggy Wilson, R-Wrangell, is chair of Transportation; Paul Seaton, R-Homer, chairs education; and Cathy Munoz, R-Juneau, chairs Community & Regional Affairs.
Special committee chairmanships include Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, at Energy and Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, at Military & Veterans Affairs.
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