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Gov. Frank Murkowski
Frank Hughes Murkowski (born March 28, 1933) is a Polish-American politician who is the current Governor of Alaska and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he was a U.S. Senator from Alaska from 1981 until 2003.
Raised in Ketchikan, Alaska, Frank Murkowski initially attended Santa Clara University but graduated from Seattle University, both Catholic Jesuit universities. Prior to his election to the Senate in 1980, he worked in the banking industry in both Anchorage, Alaska and Wrangell, Alaska.
During his time in the Senate, he was most notable as Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee from 1995 until 2001. He argued and moved politically against attempts by environmentalists to stop oil drilling in certain areas in Alaska.
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.
Upon being inaugurated as Governor the following month, he resigned his Senate seat and appointed his daughter, Lisa Murkowski, in his place. This led his opponents to accuse him of nepotism even though at the time of the appointment, Lisa Murkowski was the Majority Leader-designate of the Alaska House of Representatives.
He has six children with this wife, Nancy. He currently resides in the state's capital, Juneau.
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