Tuckerman Babcock

Tuckerman Babcock (born 1959/60)[1] is a political strategist who served as chairman of the Alaska Republican Party from 2016 to 2018.

Tuckerman Babcock
Chair of the Alaska Republican Party
In office April 30, 2016 – November 8, 2018
Preceded by	Peter Goldberg
Succeeded by	Glenn Clary
Personal details
Born	1959/1960 (age 60–61)
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Kristie Babcock
Children	8
Relatives	Lyda Green (mother-in-law)
Education	Wesleyan University (BA) College of William and Mary

Early life and education

Babcock has been living in Alaska since 1966.[2] Between 1974 and 1978 he attended Steller Alternative High School in Anchorage.[3] Between 1979 and 1983 he went to Wesleyan University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government.[4] In 1986, he studied for a master's degree at the College of William and Mary but never completed his thesis so never earned the degree.] [5]

Career

As executive director of the Governor's Reapportionment Board Babcock oversaw the redistricting of the Alaska legislature during the 1991-1992 cycle. He then worked as special assistant of constituent relations and director of Boards and Commissions for Governor Wally Hickel.[2] Babcock was a Commissioner at the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission between 1993 and 1996.[6]

Together with Co-Chairman Frank Murkowski, Babcock managed the Dole presidential campaign in 1996. He was also part of the State Leadership Team for the presidential campaign of Steve Forbes in 1996 and 2000. In 1997, he worked in the staff of his later mother-in-law, State Senator Lyda Green[7] advised Sarah Palin in all of her campaigns between 1996 and 2008, but the relationship between them stalled after Palin became a national public figure.[8] Between 1999 -2009, Babcock worked at the Matanuska Electric Association[9] as Manager of Government and Strategic Affairs[10] and later also as Director of Human Resources[11] as well as Assistant Manager. After leaving MEA, he became a full-time parent, taking care of the couple's eight children.[4]

Babcock has served as precinct officer and district chairman of Alaska's GOP (AKGOP). He also was state vice chairman and also briefly served as the party's chairman in the year 2000.[2] In 2016, he again ran for this office. During the Alaska Republican Party convention in Fairbanks April 28–30, 2016, Babcock ran against Fairbanks trial attorney Ann Brown to succeed Peter Goldberg.[12][13] Babcock won the election and also became a delegate for the National Republican Convention in Cleveland in the summer of 2016.[3]

Babcock described the Alaskan Republican Party as "definitely the party of fierce-minded individuals".[14] In an affair concerning three Representatives who ran on the Republican ticket but afterwards sided with the state's democrats, thereby affording the Democrats a majority in the State House, he sent an open letter to the three lawmakers.[15] He also supported an attempt of the AKGOP to block the three Representatives from again running in the primaries of the Republican party.[16]

Political positions

Regarding the decision of Senator Murkowski and Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska to take a critical stance towards the abolition of the Affordable Care Act in 2017 (Obamacare), Babcock stated that he was dismayed.[17] He reminded Murkowski and Sullivan in a letter[18] that the American people were promised on non-negotiable terms that Obamacare would be repealed.

Personal life

Babcock is married to Kristie Babcock, who owns a State Farm Insurance agency in Kenai.[4][19] The couple has eight children. The family lives on the Kenai Peninsula.[4]

References

1. "Reporting From Alaska- Small government champion Tuckerman Babcock lands big government job". Reporting From Alaska. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
2. "Chairman Tuckerman Babcock". Alaska Republican Party. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
3. "Alaska GOP names Babcock party chair". Alaska Public Media. April 30, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
4. "Tuckerman Babcock State Chairman". GOP. April 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
5. "Tuckerman Babcock". LinkedIn. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
6. "Welcome to the AOGCC Public Member Commissioners". State of Alaska. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
7. "Legislature(1997-1998)". Alaska State Legislature. April 22, 1997. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
8. "Palin´s cold shoulder". Politico. May 9, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
9. "MEA coal-fired plant plan spurs heated debate". Alaska Journal of Commerce. December 5, 2007. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
10. "HCR 9-MATANUSKA ELECTRIC ASSN DEREGULATION". Alaska State Legislature. May 5, 2001. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
11. "MEA lineman files discrimination suit". Anchorage Daily News. September 29, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
12. David, Lance (May 28, 2018). "Babcock elected new Alaska Republican party chair". KINY. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
13. "Two announce candidacy for Alaska Republican Party Chairman". The Midnight Sun. March 1, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
14. "Miller campaign resurrects 6-year-old fliers for attack on Murkowski". Anchorage Daily News. November 1, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
15. "Fractured Capitol power structure complicates efforts to implement budget solutions". KTUU-TV. November 12, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
16. "The Alaska Republican Party set to block three lawmakers from running in its primary". KTUU-TV. December 4, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
17. "UPDATE: Reaction to Murkowski's No vote on GOP health care bill". KTUU-TV. July 27, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
18. "Pressure's on Murkowski, Sullivan as Senate prepares for health care vote". Anchorage Daily News. July 24, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
19. "MEA board sacks two managers, targets general manager". Anchorage Daily News. September 29, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2018.