Sweeney stepping down as Murkowski state director

JUNEAU — The man who managed U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s historic re-election campaign last fall is stepping down as her office’s state director.

Murkowski said in a statement Friday that Kevin Sweeney is leaving to “pursue other opportunities.”

Sweeney, a Murkowski aide since 2005, managed her write-in campaign for re-election last year. Murkowski, who lost the GOP primary to Joe Miller, became the first U.S. Senate candidate since 1954 to win as a write-in.

Murkowski said Sweeney will remain an adviser and campaign representative.

He is set to stay on as state director for a few more weeks to lead the search for his replacement.