Albert Kookesh

Albert Kookesh
Alaska State Senate District C
Former member
In office
January 10, 2005-January 24, 2013
Party	Democratic
Compensation
Base salary	$50,400/year
Per diem	$189 or $234/day
Elections and appointments
Last election	November 6, 2012
First elected	2004
Term limits	N/A
Prior offices
Alaska House of Representatives
1997-2005
Education
High school	Mt. Edgecumbe High School
Bachelor's	Alaska Methodist University, 1971
J.D.	University of Washington, 1976
Personal
Birthday	November 24, 1948
Place of birth	Juneau, AK
Profession	Businessman

The information about this individual is current as of when his or her last campaign ended. See anything that needs updating? Send a correction to our editors

Albert M. Kookesh (b. November 24, 1948) is a former Democratic member of the Alaska State Senate, representing the C District from 2005 to 2013. Previously he was a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1997 to 2005.

Albert Kookesh earned his bachelor's degree from the Alaska Methodist University in 1971, and went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Washington in 1976.

Kookesh has a wide range of professional experience, ranging from commercial fishing to directing the American Indian Museum Smithsonian Institution. In addition, Kookesh has been involved in the Sealaska Corporation as a board member and the owner/operator of Lodge and Market. Starting in 1976, Albert Kookesh worked for Kootznoowoo, Incorporated, where he served as business manager, executive vice president, acting president, and chief executive officer throughout the course of his employment, which ended in 1992. Two years later, Kookesh served in the Office of the Governor as special assistant for rural affairs.

Kookesh has been a precinct chairman and central committeeman of the Alaska Democratic Party.

Committee assignments

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Kookesh served on these committees:

• Community & Regional Affairs Committee, Alaska State Senate
• State Affairs Committee, Alaska State Senate
• Transportation Committee, Alaska State Senate, Chair
• Finance Subcommittees:

• Subcommittee on Commerce, Community and Economic Development
• Subcommittee on Governor
• Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Facilities

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Kookesh served on these committees:

• Community & Regional Affairs Committee, Alaska State Senate
• State Affairs Committee, Alaska State Senate
• Transportation Committee, Alaska State Senate Chairperson

Elections

2012

See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2012

Kookesh ran for re-election in the 2012 election for Alaska State Senate District 17 (Q). He ran unopposed in the August 28 Democratic primary and was defeated by incumbent Bert Stedman (R) in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.

Alaska State Senate, District 17, General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Bert Stedman Incumbent	64.5%	9,829
	Democratic	Albert Kookesh Incumbent	35.5%	5,413
Total Votes				15,242

2008

In 2008 Kookesh was elected to the Alaska State Senate in District C. Kookesh won by taking 8,256 votes (68.91%). His opponent Rosema Schneeberger finished with 3,628 votes (30.28%). Kookesh riased $31,265 for his campaign fund.

Alaska State Senate, District C (2008)
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Albert Kookesh (D)		8,256	68.91%
Rosema Schneeberger (NP)		3,628	30.28%

2010 recall effort

See also: Recall campaigns in Alaska

A recall effort targeting Kookesh was launched in March 2010 after the Ethics Committee of the Alaska State Legislature found that Kookesh had violated an ethics act. To force a recall election, recall supporters needed to collect the signatures of 1,213 registered voters in District C, or 10% of the votes cast in the district when the seat was last up for election in 2008. Additional steps would follow.

The ethics committee said Kookesh violated a state ethics law when he implied that he would deny state funding to Craig if the Craig City Council voted to oppose the Sealaska Bill. The Sealaska bill that was pending in the Alaska legislature would grant tens of thousands of acres of federal land to the Sealaska Corporation, which is a corporation primarily owned and operated by Native American tribes. Kookesh is the chair of the board of Sealaska.

Campaign donors

2010 (Off-cycle)

Kookesh raised no money in the 2010 election cycle.

2008

In 2008, Kookesh collected $31,265 in donations.

His five largest contributors in 2008 were:

Donor	Amount
Alaska State Employees Association Local 52	$1,500
Operating Engineers Local 302	$1,000
Alaska Laborers Local 341	$1,000
Alaska Region Council of Carpenters Local 1281	$1,000
Laborers Local 942	$1,000

Sponsored legislation

• Here is a record of the legislation that Senator Kookesh has sponsored according to the official Alaskan Senate website.

Personal

Kookesh was born in Juneau, Alaska and raised in his home city of Angoon, Alaska. He is currently married to Sally Kookesh and has five children.

Recent news

This section displays the most recent stories in a google news search for the term "Albert + Kookesh + Alaska + Senate"

Albert Kookesh News Feed

• Sealaska income nearly doubles last year - Wrangellsentinel
• 78th Annual Tribal Assembly adjourns - Capital city weekly
• Senate Subcommittee Advances Sealaska Lands Bill - SitNews

External links

Suggest a link

• Project Vote Smart biography
• Project Vote Smart legislative profile
• Alaska Democratic caucus biography
• Campaign Contributions Senate: 2010, 2008, 2006 2004
  
• Campaign Contributions House: 2002 2000 1998 1996

References

Political offices
Preceded by -	Alaska State Senate District C 2005–2013	Succeeded by Click Bishop (R)
Preceded by Jerry Mackie	Alaska House of Representatives District 5 1997 – 2005	Succeeded by Bill Thomas (R)