Sen. Randy Phillips State Capitol, Room 103 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4929 Fax: (907) 465-4979

Rep. Pete Kott State Capitol, Room 204 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-3777 Fax: (907) 465-2819

Joint Committee Selects State Ombudsman
Lord-Jenkins Has 13 Years' Experience as Advocate in Anchorage

(JUNEAU) – The Ombudsman Selection Committee of the Alaska State Legislature on Saturday selected Linda Lord-Jenkins, the assistant state ombudsman of 13 years, as its nominee to fill the position of ombudsman for the state of Alaska.

Lord-Jenkins of Anchorage was chosen from a field of nearly 80 applicants seeking to serve as state ombudsman, providing a bridge between citizens and government. She will succeed Acting Ombudsman Maria Moya, who has held the job since Ombudsman Stewart Hall resigned in 1997. She is appointed for a five-year term, with the option for two additional five-year terms.

Rep. Pete Kott (R-Eagle River) the House co-chair of the committee, said, "Linda Lord-Jenkins has posted an outstanding record of representing the interest of Alaskans and of making our system of government better. We are pleased she will be bringing her vast experience and wise judgment to the job."

"With her insider's knowledge of Alaska government, and her journalistic skills at research and writing, Lord-Jenkins stood out even in a field of highly qualified applicants," said Sen. Randy Phillips (R-Eagle River), the Senate co-chair. "I'm particularly pleased to have someone in that position with extensive experience resolving such a wide variety of problems related to government."

As assistant ombudsman since 1989, Lord-Jenkins has conducted more than 75 formal investigations of state agencies and assisted citizens with more than 2,700 formal complaints, helping citizens deal with the seemingly insurmountable problems posed by a complex government. Many more problems were resolved less formally through education, clarification and mediation. Lord-Jenkins had earlier worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Anchorage and Florida.

The state ombudsman's office is an independent, impartial service that acts as a clearinghouse for citizen complaints about the conduct of state departments, agencies and personnel. The ombudsman receives complaints of unfair, unlawful, inefficient or discourteous service by state agencies; investigates them through research, interviews or other methods; and issues reports to the Legislature and to the public.

Lord-Jenkins will begin her new duties in Anchorage following confirmation by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature in joint session, and formal appointment by the Governor. In accordance with Alaska Statute 39.27.011, she will be paid at a Range 26, Step A salary, currently $5,967 per month.

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