Frank Murkowski

Francis Hughes "Frank" Murkowski ( born March 28, 1933, Ketchikan, Alaska ) is an American politician ( Republican) and former governor of Alaska. Previously, he was from 1981 to 2002 U.S. Senator for that State. After the change from senatorial to the governorship, he appointed his daughter Lisa Murkowski as his successor in the Senate.

Early years and political rise

Murkowski graduated in 1951 at the Ketchikan High School, then attended the beginning of the Santa Clara University, made, however, in 1955 the university degree in Economics at Seattle University. Both are Jesuit universities. After that, he was until 1957 active in the U.S. Coast Guard, working for the Pacific National Bank in Seattle and attended the Pacific Coast Banking School.

As Murkowski was appointed Commissioner of Economic Development in Alaska in 1966, he was with his then 33 years at the time the youngest Commissioner, who held this office. In 1971 he became the president of the Alaska National Bank of the North; his family subsequently moved to Fairbanks. In addition, he was also president of the Alaska Bankers Association and the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce. In 1970 he applied for the only mandate of his state in the U.S. House of Representatives, but was defeated by Democrat Nick Begich.

Senator for Alaska

Murkowski was elected in 1980 against Clark Gruening in the U.S. Senate, where he represented the next 22 years Alaska. During his time in the Senate he emerged as the Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources from 1995 to 2001 the most. He was also active in the financial and Veterans Committee and the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Governor of Alaska

On November 5, 2002 Frank Murkowski was elected governor of Alaska, where he challenges the candidate of the Democratic Party, Fran Ulmer, prevailed. He replaced the Democrat Tony Knowles and took office on December 2, 2002. There he turned his attention to the revival of the state economy through resource development, and the strengthening of education and public safety systems. He also distinguished himself as a crusader against drug abuse. In the Republican primary for governor in August 2006, he defeated his challenger Sarah Palin.

He currently lives with his wife Nancy in Juneau, the capital of Alaska. The couple have six grown children.