Majority, minority complete Alaska Senate organizations

The Senate Republican majority named remaining committee chairs Dec. 4, after completion of recounts and resolution of court challenges and Senate Democrats met Dec. 9 to name minority leadership and committee assignments.

Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, will continue as Senate minority leader. Kim Elton, D-Juneau, is minority whip; Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, and Donny Olson, D-Nome, will serve on the Senate Finance Committee.

Senate majority leadership, announced in November, includes Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, Senate president, Ben Stevens, R-Anchorage, Senate majority leader; John Cowdery, R-Anchorage, chairman of the Rules committee; and Lyda Green, R-Wasilla, and Gary Wilken, R-Fairbanks, co-chairs of the Finance Committee.

Standing committee chairs named Dec. 4 include Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai, Community and Regional Affairs; Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River, Health Education and Social Services; Ralph Seekins, R-Fairbanks, Judiciary; Con Bunde, R-Anchorage, Labor and Commerce; Scott Ogan, R-Palmer, Resources; Cowdery, Transportation; and Robin Taylor, R-Wrangell, State Affairs.

Other majority members of the Finance Committee are Alan Austerman, R-Kodiak; Bunde; and Stevens. The other majority members of the Resources Committee are: Wagoner, Seekins, Dyson and Stevens. Taylor will chair the Legislative Council.

Minority members of standing Senate committees include Elton and Gretchen Guess, D-Anchorage, on Resources.