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McGuire Tops Legislative Academy Class
Tapped as Outstanding Participant in CSG-WEST Workshop

(ANCHORAGE) - Organizers of a recent training academy for up-and-coming new lawmakers from Western states chose first-term Rep. Lesil McGuire (R-Anchorage) as this year's president.

McGuire was one of 37 legislators, four from Alaska, who attended the Council of State Governments-WEST's 2001 Western Legislative Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado in early October. She said her selection as the outstanding participant in the four-day workshop reflected her strong contribution both as an energetic new legislator and as a representative of an important Western state.

"Attending the CSG-West legislative academy was a great opportunity to learn from other lawmakers who share the same challenges and opportunities have here in Alaska," said McGuire. "Not only did I learn a lot that will help me serve my constituents better, but I believe my selection as this year's academy president shows that Alaska plays a leading role in state politics in the West."

Other participants acknowledged that Alaska is at the forefront of many issues important to Western states, including how to develop beyond a resource-based economy, how to resolve land-use disputes with the federal government, and how to overcome the challenges of providing public services to a small population dispersed across vast geographical areas.

The workshop program included presentations and workshops on such topics as legislative ethics, public and internal communication, time management and efficiency, negotiation techniques, leadership skills and decision-making. Participants worked with veteran legislators, members of the media, communications experts, political science professors, military officials, public activists and others.

As president of the 2001 academy, McGuire will be called on to make a presentation to the next convention of the Council of State Governments, and also to return to the Western Legislative Academy next year to speak to the participants of the class of 2002.

Along with McGuire, other Alaska legislators nominated by legislative leaders and selected by the CSG-West board of directors for attendance included Rep. Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) and Rep. Peggy Wilson (R-Wrangell).

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