Les Gara

Les Gara
Alaska House of Representatives District 18
Incumbent
In office
2003-Present
Term ends
January 26, 2015
Years in position	10
Party	Democratic
Compensation
Base salary	$50,400/year
Per diem	$238 or $253/day
Elections and appointments
Last election	November 6, 2012
First elected	2002
Next election	November 4, 2014
Term limits	N/A
Education
Bachelor's	Boston University, 1985
J.D.	Harvard Law School, 1988
Personal
Birthday	February 6, 1963
Place of birth	New York City, NY
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Jewish
Websites
Office website

Les Gara (b. February 6, 1963) is a Democratic member of the Alaska House of Representatives, representing District 18 since 2003.

Gara is a freelance writer and owner of LG Writing and Research. He has previously worked as a Law Partner with Friedman, Rubin and White, and an attorney in private and public practice.

Gara is a life member of the Alaska Flyfishers Association, and volunteers with the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association, Amnesty International, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Brother Francis Shelter, and Camp Fire.

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Gara served on the following committees:

Alaska Committee Assignments, 2013
• Finance

2011-2012

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

Alaska Committee Assignments, 2011
• Finance

2009-2010

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

Alaska Committee Assignments, 2011
• Finance

Issues

Gara's answers to the Alaska State Legislative Election 2008 Political Courage Test are available. The test provides voters with how a candidate would vote on the issues if elected. When asked his legislative priorities he replied:

"I will keep working form expanded pre-k education, because the studies show that it results in higher graduation rates, lower crime rates, and greater success for students. I will keep supporting increased university and job training financial aid so that income isn't a factor in whether someone can reach for success. I'll keep fighting for a stronger minimum wage; better renewable energy funding; good pensions for government workers; and universal access to quality medical care. I will also keep working to protect our access rights to Alaska's public lands, and our ability to enjoy Alaska's fishing, hunting and recreational areas."

Sponsored legislation

• HB 45 - "An Act relating to certain investments of the Alaska permanent fund, the state's retirement systems, the State of Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan, and the deferred compensation program for state employees in companies that do business in Sudan, and restricting those investments."
• HB 148 -"An Act relating to a state energy use reduction plan and energy efficiency improvement contracts and to energy audits of public buildings conducted by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities;
• HB 237 - "An Act prohibiting certain per diem payments and delaying the payment of salaries to legislators based on the failure to adopt an education operating budget before March 1 of each fiscal year."

Elections

2012

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2012

Gara ran for re-election in the 2012 election for Alaska House of Representatives District 18. He ran unopposed in the August 28, 2012, Democratic primary. The general election took place on November 6, 2012. Gara won in the general election.

Alaska House of Representatives, District 18, General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Les S. Gara Incumbent	72.2%	4,356
	Republican	Cris A. Eichenlaub	27.4%	1,654
	Write-in	Write-in	0.4%	27
Total Votes				6,037

2010

See also: Alaska House of Representatives elections, 2010

Gara won re-election to the 23rd District Seat in 2010. He had no opposition in the primary or the general election.

2008

In 2008 Gara was re-elected to the Alaska House of Representatives District 23. Gara (D) ran unopposed and finished with 4,952 votes. Gara raised $79,509 for his campaign fund.

Alaska House of Representatives District 23
Candidates		Votes
Les Gara (D)		4,952

Campaign donors

2012

Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.

Campaign donors

2010

In 2010, Gara raised $33,020 in contributions.

His five largest contributors were:

Donor	Amount
Alaska State Employees Association Local 52	$2,000
Alaska Public Employees Association	$2,000
Operating Engineers Local 302	$2,000
Nea-Alaska	$1,500
Alaska Laborers Local 341	$1,500

2008

In 2008 Gara raised $79,509 for his campaign fund. Five of his top contributors are listed below.

Contributor	2008 total
Carpenters Local 1281	$2,000
AK State Employees Assoc Local 52	$2,000
Public Safety Employees Assoc	$1,500
Operating Engineers Local 302	$1,500
AK Public Employees Assoc	$1,500

Personal

Gara has a wife, Kelly.

Recent news

This section displays the most recent stories in a google news search for the term "Les + Gara + Alaska + House"

Les Gara News Feed

• Energy studies make dent in Alaska capital budget - Alaska Dispatch
• The spinning of SB21 - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
• Oil tax cut bill not responsible for 'sudden' new projects, or for sunrise - Alaska Dispatch
• PFD bill helps military, but could lead to fraud - Juneau Empire (subscription)
• Critics of oil tax cuts move ahead with referendum to repeal the legislation - Anchorage Daily News

External links

Suggest a link

• Alaska State Legislature - Representative Les Gara
• Project Vote Smart legislative profile
• Project Vote Smart biography
• Campaign contributions: 2010, 2008, 2004, 2002
• Alaska's Democratic Caucus - Les Gara profile
• Les Gara on Facebook
• Les Gara on Twitter

References

Political offices
Preceded by -	Alaska House of Representatives District 18 2013–present	Succeeded by N/A
Preceded by -	Alaska House of Representatives District 23 2003–2013	Succeeded by Bob Lynn (R)