Frank Murkowski
From Freepedia
| Image:Frank murkowski.jpg | |
| Order: | 10th Governor of Alaska |
| Term of Office: | December 2002 – |
| Predecessor: | Tony Knowles |
| Successor: | Incumbent |
| Date of Birth: | March 28, 1933 |
| Place of Birth: | Seattle, Washington |
| First Lady: | Nancy Murkowski |
| Profession: | Banker |
| Political Party: | Republican |
| Lieutenant Governor: |
Loren D. Leman (2002–present) |
Francis Hughes Murkowski (born March 28, 1933) is a Polish-American politician who is the current Governor of Alaska and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he was a U.S. Senator from Alaska from 1981 until 2003.
Raised in Ketchikan, Alaska, Frank Murkowski initially attended Santa Clara University but graduated from Seattle University, both Catholic Jesuit universities. Prior to his election to the Senate in 1980, he worked in the banking industry in both Anchorage, Alaska and Wrangell, Alaska.
During his time in the Senate, he was most notable as Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee from 1995 until 2001. He argued and moved politically against attempts by environmentalists to stop oil drilling in certain areas in Alaska.
He was elected governor on November 5, 2002, defeating his Democratic opponent, Fran Ulmer 56%-41%. He succeeded retiring Democrat Tony Knowles and took office on December 2 2002.
Upon being inaugurated as Governor the following month, he resigned his Senate seat and appointed his daughter, Lisa Murkowski, the Majority Leader-designate of the Alaska House of Representatives, in his place. This led his opponents to accuse him of nepotism.
He has six children with this wife, Nancy. He currently resides in the state's capital, Juneau.
As of July, 2005, according to a poll, Murkowski has the second lowest approval rating out of the 50 governors, only Robert Taft of Ohio is ranked worse. His approval rating is only 31%, while his disapproval rating is 61%. Murkowski has been involved in a bit of controversy over his desire to purchase a private jet to be used by himself and Alaska State Police. link
External link
| Preceded by: Mike Gravel | U.S. Senator from Alaska 1981–2002 Served alongside: Ted Stevens | Succeeded by: Lisa Murkowski |
| Preceded by: Tony Knowles | Governor of Alaska 2002–present | Succeeded by: — |
| Governors of Alaska | ||
|---|---|---|
| District Governors | ||
| Kinkead | Swineford | Knapp | Sheakley | Brady | Hoggatt | Clark | ||
| Territorial Governors | ||
| Clark | Strong | Riggs | Bone | Parks | Troy | Gruening | Heintzleman | Hendrickson | Stepovich | Hendrickson | ||
| State Governors | ||
| Egan | Hickel | Miller | Egan | Hammond | Sheffield | Cowper | Hickel | Knowles | Murkowski | ||
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Categories: 1933 births | American bankers | Elks | Governors of Alaska | Lions Club members | People from Alaska | People from Washington | Polish-Americans | Roman Catholic politicians | Roman Catholics | Rotary Club members | U.S. Coast Guard officers | United States Senators from Alaska
