Frank H. Murkowski was elected Governor on November 5 and was sworn into office on December 2, 2002, as Alaska’s tenth governor.

Acting on his commitment to the youths of Alaska, Governor Murkowski has concentrated on building the economy of the state so that young Alaskans can find good job opportunities in both rural and urban Alaska. Concentrating on expanding Alaska’s resources, oil, gas, minerals, fish, timber, and tourism in the markets of the Pacific Rim have been his priorities. Governor Murkowski has reduced state spending and initiated several efficiencies in permitting and procedures without compromising service levels or environmental oversight.

Quality education, public safety, and health care are priorities of his administration. In the nation’s theme of “No Child Left Behind” he is committed to develop a quality education system in both rural and urban Alaska that will be second to none.

Governor Murkowski is committed to bringing Alaskans together, regardless of party, to revamp and to open up the state government decision-making process. He believes that debt can be reduced and the state budget can be balanced without continuing to draw down the budget reserve.

His commitment to Alaska is to build a foundation that will support an expanding economy without an unreasonable tax burden and provide for a good quality of life for all Alaskans.

Frank H. Murkowski was raised in Ketchikan, Alaska. He attended Santa Clara University and graduated from Seattle University with a major in economics. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard in Sitka and Ketchikan. After his tour of duty, Murkowski began his career in banking and was associated with the National Bank of Alaska in both Anchorage and Wrangell for ten years. He then served Governor Walter J. Hickel as commissioner of the Department of Economic Development from 1966-1969. In 1971, he became president of the Alaska National Bank in Fairbanks. In 1980, he was elected to the U.S. Senate where he served Alaska for 22 years.

During his tenure in the U.S. Senate, Murkowski served as chairman of the Energy Committee and as Subcommittee Chairman of Pacific and East Asian Affairs on the Foreign Relations Committee. He also served on the Committees of Finance and Indian Affairs, Veterans Affairs, and for eight years the Select Committee on Intelligence. He was appointed as Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the United Nations in 1996 where he initiated a U.N. resolution on the ban of driftnet fisheries. During his senate career, he crafted the Omnibus Parks-Presidio bill, among the most extensive national parks and refuge bills ever to pass Congress. He also led the successful effort to ban driftnets from the high seas, worked to stop salmon piracy, ended the ban on the export of North Slope crude oil, and won major legislation to help improve conditions in Alaska Native communities. He is a recognized expert on such topics as energy policy, fossil fuel and nuclear development, electricity restructuring, and climate change.

Governor Murkowski has been active in local and community affairs. He served as president of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce and Alaska Bankers Association and serves as a member of Young Presidents Organizations, Elks, American Legion, and Pioneers of Alaska.

He and his wife Nancy have six children and twelve grandchildren and reside in the Governor’s Residence in Juneau.