Sen. Gene Therriault State Capitol, Room 121 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4797 Fax: (907) 465-3884

Sen. Ben Stevens State Capitol, Room 119 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4993 Fax: (907) 465-3872

Therriault To Lead Senate Into New Era
Senate Majority Announces Organization of Twenty-Third Legislature

(ANCHORAGE) - Following what could only be called a "smooth transition" Senate Republicans announced today that Sen. Gene Therriault (R-North Pole) will take the reigns of the State Senate as it's nineteenth Senate President when the Legislature convenes in January.

Therriault, a 10-year veteran of the Legislature, was elected to the Senate in 2000. During his eight years in the House of Representatives Sen. Therriault served on the House Finance Committee and was Co-Chair of that committee from 1996-2000. During this past session Therriault served as Chairman of the Senate State Affairs committee and the Legislative Budget and Audit committee. Now Therriault says he is ready to take lead of the Senate as its new President.

"I look forward to working with the new Murkowski administration," said Therriault. "Together the Senate and the administration will work on a systematic review of State government - a review the citizens of Alaska called for in this election."

Sen. Ben Stevens, (R-Anchorage) will serve as the new Senate Majority Leader. The Senator says that if the organization process is any indication this next session should provide Alaskans with a smooth and balanced State Senate.

"Given the amount of new members in the Senate Majority, this Leadership slate came together easily and has good regional representation," said Stevens. "At this point we have 12 elected members of the caucus and there are three elections not yet finalized. The final committee make-up will be determined after the official certified elections results are released."

The other senior leadership positions announced during an afternoon press conference today at the Legislative Information Office in Anchorage include:

Sen. John Cowdery, (R-Anchorage) - Rules Chair;
Sen. Lyda Green, (R-Wasilla) - Finance Committee Co-Chair, Operating Budget; and
Sen. Gary Wilken, (R-Fairbanks) - Finance Committee Co-Chair, Capital Budget

Sen. Green, who was not available at the press conference, says she is optimistic that about the fiscal future of Alaska.

"As the Senate Finance co-chairs, Sen.Wilken and I are committed to working with Gov. Murkowski and his new Director of the Office of Management and Budget to assure all Alaskans that this State's government will be run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

The new Senate leadership will be installed when the Senate reconvenes in Juneau on January 21, 2003.

# # #

Attachments:

• Print Friendly Version
  Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 1 page(s) - 15K
  

| Sen. Therriault's Page | Sen. Ben Stevens' Page |
| Sen. Cowdery's Page | Sen. Green's Page |
| Sen. Wilken's Page |

| Top | Home | Site Search | Breaking News | Legislators | Bills |
| Committees | E-Newsletter | Surveys | Research | Help |

The Official Web Site of the House and Senate Legislative Majorities
for the 22nd Alaska State Legislature
To Report Technical Problems or Contact Webmasters