Frank Murkowski
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Frank Murkowski
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10th Governor of Alaska
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| In office December 2, 2002 – December 4, 2006 |
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| Lieutenant | Loren D. Leman |
| Preceded by | Tony Knowles |
| Succeeded by | Sarah Palin |
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| In office January 3, 1981 – December 2, 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Gravel |
| Succeeded by | Lisa Murkowski |
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| Born | March 28, 1933 Seattle, Washington |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Nancy Murkowski |
| Residence | Fairbanks, Alaska |
| Alma mater | University of Santa Clara Seattle University |
| Profession | Banker, Politician |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Coast Guard |
| Years of service | 1955-1956 |
Francis Hughes Murkowski (born March 28, 1933) is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was a United States Senator from Alaska from 1981 until 2002 and Governor of Alaska from 2002 until 2006.
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[edit] Early life and career
Murkowski was born in Seattle, Washington to Frank Michael Murkowski and Helen Hughes.[1] He was raised in Ketchikan, Alaska and initially attended Santa Clara University but graduated from Seattle University, both Catholic universities run by the Society of Jesus. Prior to his election to the Senate in 1980, he worked in the banking industry in Anchorage and Wrangell. In 1970, he was the Republican nominee for the at-large U.S. House seat, but lost to Nick Begich, 55%-45%. He is married to Nancy Murkowski, and they have six children.
[edit] U.S. Senate
During his time in the Senate, he was most notable as Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee from 1995 to 2001. As chair, he argued and attempted unsuccessfully to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.
[edit] Governor
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. Despite Alaska's reputation as a conservative state, Murkowski was the first Republican elected governor since Jay Hammond in 1978.
Upon his inauguration, 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.
Toward the end of his administration he brokered a deal for a gas pipeline that was never considered, in final form, by the legislature. Murkowski threatened to sign the deal without legislative approval, but the legislature successfully brought a lawsuit to enjoin him from doing so.
Governor Murkowski ran for re-election in 2006, but came in third behind former Wasilla mayor Sarah Palin and Fairbanks businessman John Binkley in the Republican primary election on August 22, 2006 (Palin winning with 51% and Binkley taking second with 30% to Murkowski's 19%).[2] Most polls had predicted this result.[citation needed] Murkowski left office with one of the nation's worst approval ratings of 19%.[3]
On March 4, 2008, Murkowski's former chief-of-staff, Jim Clark, pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy after federal investigators discovered Clark had asked oil-field company Veco to illegally pay $68,550 on polls for Murkowski's failed 2006 re-election campaign. Murkowski, Clark's indictment noted, was the only candidate who supported an oil tax and gas pipeline plan that Veco backed. Murkowski has not been charged in the Alaska political corruption probe.
In all, Murkowski spent two years in the armed services, 22 years as Alaska's junior senator in D.C. and four years as governor.
[edit] Jet Plane Scandal
In 2005, in spite of opposition from the Alaska Legislature, Murkowski purchased a Westwind II jet with state money for $2.7 million.[4] This purchase became the symbol of his unpopular legacy in state politics, so much so that his successor, Sarah Palin, promised to sell the jet once she became governor. After losing the primary and one month before leaving office, Murkowski used the jet for a $13,000 trip to Taiwan, Japan, and Korea.[5]
[edit] Electoral history
- 2006 race for Governor (primary)
- Sarah Palin (R), 51%
- John Binkley (R), 30%
- Frank Murkowski (R) (incumbent), 19%
- 2002 race for Governor
- Frank Murkowski (R), 56%
- Fran Ulmer (D), 41%
- 1998 race for U.S. Senate
- Frank Murkowski (R) (inc.), 75%
- Joe Sonneman (D), 20%
- 1992 race for U.S. Senate
- Frank Murkowski (R) (inc.), 53%
- Tony Smith (D), 38%
- Mary Jordan (Grn.), 8%
- 1986 race for U.S. Senate
- Frank Murkowski (R) (inc.), 55%
- Glenn Olds (D), 45%
- 1980 race for U.S. Senate
- Frank Murkowski (R), 54%
- Clark Gruening (D), 46%
- 1970 race for U.S. House
- Nick Begich (D), 55%
- Frank Murkowski (R), 45%
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] External links
- FrankMurkowski.com
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Governor Murkowski rated the most unpopular governor in the entire U.S., via alaskareport.com
| United States Senate | ||
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| Preceded by Mike Gravel |
United States Senator (Class 3) from Alaska 1981 – 2002 Served alongside: Ted Stevens |
Succeeded by Lisa Murkowski |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by J. Bennett Johnston |
Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee 1995 – 2001 |
Succeeded by Jeff Bingaman |
| Preceded by Tony Knowles |
Governor of Alaska 2002 – 2006 |
Succeeded by Sarah Palin |
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| Persondata | |
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| NAME | Murkowski, Frank |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Murkowski, Francis Hughes (full name) |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Alaska politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 28, 1933 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Seattle, Washington |
| DATE OF DEATH | living |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
