Nageak named to Arctic Policy Commission

The Alaska Arctic Policy Commission reported March 31 that Alaska House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, has appointed Rep. Benjamin Nageak, D-Barrow, to replace Rep. Mark Neuman, R-Big Lake, on the commission.

The commission, chaired by Sen. Lesil McGuire and Rep. Bob Herron, and established in 2012 to formulate a state Arctic policy and implementation strategy, consists of 10 members of the state Legislature and 16 other people from a variety of backgrounds.

“I’m very excited to be appointed to the commission, whose work is so important to the region I represent and all of Alaska,” Nageak said. “I’ve been following the commission’s work with great interest, and am really looking forward to serving.”

While also expressing his appreciation for Neuman’s work for the commission, Herron commended Nageak as a legislator who represents the Arctic region.

“Rep. Nageak is already familiar with many of the issues the commission is working on,” Herron said.

“Rep. Nageak is a wonderful addition to the AAPC,” McGuire said. “It was great to see him at the commission meeting in Barrow last June. Arctic issues are a passion for Rep. Nageak and we could not have found a member with more on-the-ground life experience in the Arctic.”

According to a press release from the House Majority Caucus, Nageak was born in the village of Kaktovik and served in the U.S. army from 1970 to 1972, before embarking on a long career of public service with the North Slope Borough. He served for 11 years as an assemblyman, after which he was borough mayor from 1996 to 1999.

—Alan Bailey