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Galvin appointed Revenue commissioner Alaska’s new governor appoints more commissioners, chief of staff; bases choices on ability, not party politics Rachel D’Oro The Associated Press
Party affiliation is playing no role in Sarah Palin’s selection of Alaskans to fill the highest rungs of her administration, the Republican governor-elect said Dec. 1 after introducing another round of appointments.
Palin was sworn into office Dec. 4 as Alaska’s first woman governor and, at the age of 42, the state’s youngest governor.
“I’m not looking at or asking what party people are registered to,” Palin said Dec. 1, nodding at two designated commissioners, chief of staff and other top staffers announced at a news conference. “Raise your hands if you’re a Democrat.”
Blushing and smiling, incoming Revenue Commissioner Patrick Galvin lifted his arm in the air.
Galvin, 41, is currently a petroleum land manager with the state Division of Oil and Gas, serving as chief of the oil and gas leasing and permitting sections. According to his resume, he is the state’s primary contact for federal offshore oil and gas activities.
Palin said she will rely on his expertise to help drive negotiations for a proposed natural gas pipeline from the North Slope.
“It’s a tremendous honor to join the Palin administration and the gas line team being formed,” Galvin said after his introduction.
Galvin, Banks, Houle favored Point Thomson default decision Galvin was one of three Division of Oil and Gas section chiefs who provided input on ExxonMobil’s recent proposal to reverse a 2005 decision by then division Director Mark Myers that found the undeveloped North Slope Point Thomson unit in default.
In an Oct. 23 memo, Galvin, Kevin Banks (see sidebar to this story) and Julie Houle, strongly recommended Exxon’s proposal be rejected and the unit put into default. They were unanimously supported in that recommendation by their respective staffs.
Tibbles named chief of staff Palin also announced three other appointments on Dec. 1.
Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, she said, will return as commissioner of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and Mike Tibbles, who led Palin’s transition team, would be her chief of staff.
Tibbles, 37, has a long legislative resume that began in 1993, when he worked as a legislative assistant to the state House Finance Committee. His most recent stint was deputy administration commissioner under outgoing Gov. Frank Murkowski.
Palin also named John Bitney as her director of legislative affairs. Palin said she considers Bitney a longtime friend whose relationship with her dates back to “junior high band.”
Bitney, 42, has an extensive state legislative background, starting as a House staffer in 1988 and serving later as legislative liaison for the Alaska Housing Finance Corp., according to a biography distributed at the press conference. Most recently he ran his own lobbying and consulting business, with a clientele including investment bankers and trade associations.
Palin prompted a few laughs when she cautioned reporters against referring to Tibbles and Bitney as “Tibbles and Bits.”
Also named Dec. 1 was Meghan Stapleton as press secretary and director of communications for the governor’s office.
Stapleton, 34, is a former reporter, anchor and managing editor with KTUU-TV in Anchorage. More recently she has worked as corporate communications director for Alaska Communications Systems.
—Petroleum News contributed to this article
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