Alaska gets a new governor
Murkowski eighth person to hold the job
Juneau residents and other Alaskans filled Centennial Hall today to witness the swearing-in of Frank Murkowski as the eighth person to become governor of the state.
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Alaska Supreme Court Justice Walter Carpeneti administered the oath of office in the midday ceremony. Carpeneti also swore in Lt. Gov. Loren Leman, who needed a last-minute helicopter ride to make it into fog-shrouded Juneau.
Murkowski and Leman were sworn in about noon. Both gave a short speech following the swearing in.
They appeared on the podium along with family members and other politicians and dignitaries, including former Gov. Walter Hickel and U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens. Before the ceremony, the audience heard from the Juneau jazz band Fleetstreet.
"I think it's fair to say that today we meet at a very historic time, full of opportunity and full of promise," Murkowski said. "For the first time in a long time there is unity in the House and Senate, not only in Juneau but as well as Washington, D.C."
He said time and experience have taught Alaskans that the state motto "North to the Future" must be reaffirmed by strong leadership in the state.
"I become your governor today promising Alaska vision, promising Alaska leadership and promising Alaska accountability," Murkowski said.
Leman, a 14-year member of the Legislature and Senate majority leader last session, said Alaska's staggering size, natural beauty and vast resources pale in comparison to its richest resource: the people of Alaska.
"The most crucial to our state's success is not the latest program from Washington or Juneau or even high oil prices; success rests squarely on the shoulders of individual Alaskans taking responsibility," Leman said.
Leman thanked his parents for instilling in him strong values that he's used to help run the state as a legislator.
"They taught my brothers and me the values of honesty, persistence and hard work, and that all people deserve respect," Leman said.
Murkowski-Leman supporters expressed optimism as they filed into the hall this morning.
Commercial fisherman Andy Massey, 45, said he expected the administration's focus on developing natural resources to be good for the state.
His wife, Karin Massey, 45, took 8-year-old daughter Tiana out of school to attend the event.
"We've been waiting eight years for this day," she said.
Art Fulsaas, 71, said he's known Leman since they attended the Ninilchik Baptist Church together years ago.
"I was very happy that Murkowski and Leman were elected," said Fulsaas, who called both "strong Christian men."
"It's also nice to have a Legislature and governor of the same party," he said. "More can get done that way."
Today's ceremony makes Murkowski the eighth person to hold the office, following Tony Knowles, who served for two terms.
The Murkowski-Leman ticket won the Nov. 5 general election against Democratic contenders Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer and Anchorage businessman Ernie Hall. Official election results show Murkowski-Leman taking 56 percent of the vote and Ulmer-Hall capturing 41 percent. Four small-party candidates split the remaining ballots.
Since winning the election, Murkowski has returned to Alaska from his post in Washington, D.C., where he has served in the U.S. Senate since 1980.
Today's ceremony went largely as planned, but problems flying into Juneau almost prevented Leman from attending the inauguration.
Early this morning, Leman and his wife Carolyn were stuck in Sitka because of foggy weather in Juneau. Leman said they had been stranded since Sunday morning.
Sitka Airport Manager Ron Kinman said fog in Juneau has prevented the flight of an Alaska Airlines 737 that makes daily morning flights out of Sitka.
Leman said plans were being made this morning to swear him into office from Sitka. But the transition team for the incoming Murkowski administration arranged a private helicopter to transport the Lemans to the ceremony.
• Timothy Inklebarger can be reached at timothyi@juneauempire.com.