Alaska State Legislature
News from the House Majority

Jerry Ritter, House Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 269-0167
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

House Majority to Number 26

Election of Harris, Morgan Brings "Veto-proof Majority"

For Immediate Release: November 24, 1998 Contact: Rep. Joe Green at (907) 269-0123.

Juneau -- Recounts of results from the November 3rd election show that Republican candidates John Harris and Carl Morgan have been elected to the Alaska House of Representatives.

Harris, the former mayor of Valdez, is the winner in the open race for House District 35 by eleven votes. Morgan, from Aniak, is the winner in District 36 by six votes over incumbent Democrat Irene Nicholia.

Harris's and Morgan's victories mean that there will be 26 Republicans in the House in the 21st Alaska Legislature. It also means the Alaska Republican party bucked the national trend in the November election - there is one more Republican in the House for the upcoming Legislature than there was during the 20th Alaska Legislature.

"We want to thank the people of Alaska for this vote of confidence," said Representative Joe Green (R-Anchorage), who has been selected to be Majority Leader. "With John and Carl in the Legislature, Alaskans can expect their Legislature to continue our commitment to the people of Alaska, and especially to Alaska's children, to make this state a better place for all Alaskans," Green said.

In addition to the 26 Republicans in the House, there are 15 Republicans in the Senate, for a total of 41 Republicans in the 21st Alaska Legislature. It takes 40 votes in a joint session of the House and Senate to override gubernatorial vetoes on non-budget related legislation.

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