Anchorage – Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright, Palmer Mayor John Combs and former Attorney General Charlie Cole of Fairbanks have announced that they are endorsing Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker in the August 24th primary election.
Both Rupright and Combs cited Walker’s leadership qualities, experience and general economic vision for Alaska as reasons for their support.
“I have known Bill Walker for years. He has always been a leader with a “can do” attitude and a man of the highest integrity. I believe Bill Walker will be the governor who finally gets our economy roaring again,” said Mayor Combs.
Mayor Rupright agreed, stating, “When it comes to experience and knowledge of Alaska’s oil and gas issues which are the economic drivers of this state, Bill Walker stands out as not only an expert, but a fighter — a man who will go to the mat for Alaska’s best interests and push back on anyone, including the federal government, who gets in the way of the development of our resources.” Rupright and Combs are hosting a fundraiser for Walker in Wasilla on August 10th.
At a recent Fairbanks fundraiser, co-host Charlie Cole spoke of the years he has worked with Walker on legal and oil and gas issues and said that Walker is a man who keeps his word and Alaskans need to rally around him because “Bill Walker is the only candidate with a plan to get low cost energy to Alaskans in the foreseeable future so that we can afford to heat our homes and businesses.”
Walker, who served as Mayor of Valdez at the age of 27, has also received the endorsement and/or support of other former Valdez mayors including John Kelsey, Lynn Chrystal, John Devens, Mac MacDonald, Dave Cobb and Stephen McAlpine who also served as Lieutenant Governor. Former mayors Margy Johnson of Cordova, Tom Bearup of Soldotna and Jim Whitaker of the Fairbanks North Star Borough join the host of local government leaders endorsing Bill Walker.
According to Margy Johnson, “It is not just Bill’s vast experience in oil and gas issues but his thirty years of experience in local government matters both as an elected official and municipal attorney that make Bill uniquely qualified to lead our state.”
During his tenure as Mayor of Valdez in 1978-79, Walker played a leadership role in the building of the City’s floating dock port facility. Since his graduation from law school in 1983, Walker has specialized in municipal and oil and gas law. He has advised many of Alaska’s municipalities on numerous local government issues including economic development, taxation, public construction, contract negotiations, public utilities, educational funding, revenue sharing, labor issues, oil spill restitution and impact recovery and complex litigation. Walker is also a past President of the Alaska Municipal Attorneys’ Association.
ENDORSEMENT: Wasilla Mayor, Palmer Mayor and former Attorney General Charlie Cole join the Walker team
Anchorage – Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright, Palmer Mayor John Combs and former Attorney General Charlie Cole of Fairbanks have announced that they are endorsing Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker in the August 24th primary election.
Both Rupright and Combs cited Walker’s leadership qualities, experience and general economic vision for Alaska as reasons for their support.
“I have known Bill Walker for years. He has always been a leader with a “can do” attitude and a man of the highest integrity. I believe Bill Walker will be the governor who finally gets our economy roaring again,” said Mayor Combs.
Mayor Rupright agreed, stating, “When it comes to experience and knowledge of Alaska’s oil and gas issues which are the economic drivers of this state, Bill Walker stands out as not only an expert, but a fighter — a man who will go to the mat for Alaska’s best interests and push back on anyone, including the federal government, who gets in the way of the development of our resources.” Rupright and Combs are hosting a fundraiser for Walker in Wasilla on August 10th.
At a recent Fairbanks fundraiser, co-host Charlie Cole spoke of the years he has worked with Walker on legal and oil and gas issues and said that Walker is a man who keeps his word and Alaskans need to rally around him because “Bill Walker is the only candidate with a plan to get low cost energy to Alaskans in the foreseeable future so that we can afford to heat our homes and businesses.”
Walker, who served as Mayor of Valdez at the age of 27, has also received the endorsement and/or support of other former Valdez mayors including John Kelsey, Lynn Chrystal, John Devens, Mac MacDonald, Dave Cobb and Stephen McAlpine who also served as Lieutenant Governor. Former mayors Margy Johnson of Cordova, Tom Bearup of Soldotna and Jim Whitaker of the Fairbanks North Star Borough join the host of local government leaders endorsing Bill Walker.
According to Margy Johnson, “It is not just Bill’s vast experience in oil and gas issues but his thirty years of experience in local government matters both as an elected official and municipal attorney that make Bill uniquely qualified to lead our state.”
During his tenure as Mayor of Valdez in 1978-79, Walker played a leadership role in the building of the City’s floating dock port facility. Since his graduation from law school in 1983, Walker has specialized in municipal and oil and gas law. He has advised many of Alaska’s municipalities on numerous local government issues including economic development, taxation, public construction, contract negotiations, public utilities, educational funding, revenue sharing, labor issues, oil spill restitution and impact recovery and complex litigation. Walker is also a past President of the Alaska Municipal Attorneys’ Association.