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Walker, Mallott inaugurated in Juneau Governor names Rutherford deputy DNR commissioner; Murkowski adds Pawlowski to staff for Energy and Natural Resources Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
The Walker-Mallott administration took office Dec. 1, with Gov. Bill Walker declaring that Alaska doesn’t have a resource problem, it has a distribution problem, and pledging to work to get North Slope natural gas to Alaskans and to global markets.
Commissioner appointments of particular significance to the oil and gas industry include Mark Myers at the Department of Natural Resources and Randall Hoffbeck at Revenue - announced in November and previously reported in Petroleum News - and the recent announcement of Craig Richards as attorney general and Marty Rutherford as deputy DNR commissioner.
Myers, formerly director of the Division of Oil and Gas, served as national director of the U.S. Geological Survey from 2006-09, from 2009-10 was the state’s first natural gas inducement act coordinator and for the past four years has been vice chancellor of research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Hoffbeck has 30 years of tax administration experience, including petroleum property assessor for the state 2001-06. Recently he served as the North Slope Borough’s chief financial officer from 2006-11 and as chief of staff to Mayor Charlotte Brower in 2012.
Richards has been Walker’s law partner. A lifelong Alaskan, he holds a juris doctorate from Washington and Lee University, an MBA from Duke University and a finance degree from the University of Virginia. The governor’s office said Richards’ law practice centered on areas critical to the state, including natural gas project development, finance, taxation and oil and gas leasing.
“I have worked alongside Craig Richards for more than a decade. I trust his judgment and admire his ability to quickly and thoroughly analyze complex legal issues. He will be a strong addition to my administration,” Walker said.
Rutherford has 19 years of state government experience, including as DNR deputy commissioner in the Palin administration, and most recently has been special projects manager for Linc Energy. Rutherford is acting commissioner until Myers wraps up work at UAF.
Walker said “Marty is a natural fit for this position. I know and trust Marty. She will hit the ground running and do an outstanding job,” he said.
Pawlowski headed to DC One note of interest from the outgoing Parnell administration is that Mike Pawlowski, most recently deputy commissioner of Revenue, is making the move to Washington, D.C.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said Dec. 3 that Pawlowski will join the Republican staff of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Pawlowski is a graduate of Alaska Pacific University.
“Mike has extensive expertise on our state’s oil and gas issues,” Murkowski said. “I can think of no one better than a lifelong Alaskan with considerable policy experience to add to our team as we make the case for greater access to our federal lands and waters.”
House congrats, issues The House majority and its Democratic caucus both welcomed the new administration in press releases following the inauguration.
House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, congratulated the governor and lieutenant governor on their victory.
“Now the work of governing begins,” he said. “We look forward to learning of the new administration’s plans for the FY2016 state operating budget and the supplemental budget for the current fiscal year. The House is willing to work with the new administration to continue our record of lowering the operating budget, and prioritizing services for Alaskans.”
Incoming House Majority Leader Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, said Alaskans voted for the Walker-Mallott ticket “because they set aside their partisan differences and agreed to work together to move Alaska forward.” She said the majority caucus has “partisan and regional diversity; it’s something we’ve prided ourselves on since I’ve been in the Legislature, and I’m glad to see that spirit now on the Capitol’s third floor.”
The House majority press release noted crude oil prices are lower than forecast and said Walker promised in his campaign to expand Medicaid while cutting the budget 16 percent.
House Minority Leader Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, said he has “high hopes that the House Democratic Caucus can help the new Governor and Lt. Governor identify how best to address a number of significant issues including expanding Medicare, advancing a natural gas pipeline and weathering the current fiscal crisis.”
House Minority Whip Max Gruenberg, D-Anchorage, said: “Declining oil production coupled with the unanticipated low price for oil means less money for the state of Alaska and some tough decisions for the new administration.”
“I supported the Unity Ticket of Walker and Mallott as did Democrats across the state,” said Democratic Floor Leader Geran Tarr of Anchorage. “If they stay true to the people that voted them into office and work to protect the best interests of the State then the Walker-Mallott administration will be a success.”
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