Politics

With resources and revenue appointments, Walker cabinet begins to take shape

Gov.-elect Bill Walker is moving quickly to assemble his cabinet, naming a former head of the U.S. Geological Survey to lead the Department of Natural Resources and a former state oil and gas property assessor to lead the Department of Revenue.

Both have long backgrounds in Alaska and considerable experience in dealing with the Legislature, local governments, and the oil industry and other elements of private enterprise in Alaska.

Mark Myers, now a key figure at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in research, is to be the natural resources commissioner, while Randall Hoffbeck, now on a mission to Kenya, is to lead the Revenue Department.

"The work he did for Arco and his experience on exploration issues makes him an excellent fit," Walker said of Myers. "He was head of USGS under the Bush administration, so he has a really broad, good background on resource development."

About Hoffbeck, Walker said: "He has a long history of working on oil and gas taxation issues. He has a good blend of experience between the local government and the state level."

Hoffbeck is expected to return from his mission trip the first week of January and start work soon afterward.

Myers, who was reached at the airport in Madison, Wisconsin, Saturday morning, said he believes that wise resource policies start with understanding science.

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"One of the things that I'd like to see DNR do is really focus on science-based management of the resources, with an emphasis on using the best available science in making decisions," Myers said.

Myers said he plans to join the Walker administration in January, a delay that is due to his ongoing responsibilities at UAF, where he is vice chancellor of research. He said he plans to take personal leave when he can from UAF and to get caught up with DNR matters as soon as possible, starting immediately.

Myers, who got up at 4 a.m. to get a flight from Washington, D.C., to Wisconsin, where he is visiting his parents, said in a phone interview that he likes the research post at UAF, but as someone who has been involved with state public policy for many years, "how can you not try to do what you can?"

UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers said that Myers has helped the university succeed in a variety of large projects at a time of federal cutbacks. "Alaska will be well served when he has similar success in his new role," Rogers said.

The appointments were announced early Saturday, after the start of Walker's three-day transition conference at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Separately, Walker's office released the names of some 250 Alaskans participating in the gathering.

Myers, who has held key positions in natural resources and science over the past few decades, served as director of the USGS under former President George W. Bush after his tenure in the Knowles and Murkowski administrations as director of the Oil and Gas Division in Alaska.

He worked as a state petroleum geologist from 1990 to 1998 and has a doctorate in geology. Myers has held his position at UAF since 2011.

Early in his career, he was a pilot and intelligence officer in the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve. Later, he worked as an oil exploration geologist for Chevron and Arco Alaska Inc.

Myers has worked to resolve longstanding delays at Point Thomson, develop a natural gas pipeline and expand competition among oil and gas companies in Alaska.

Hoffbeck has 30 years' experience in tax administration and worked as the state oil property tax assessor from 2001 to 2006. After that he worked as chief financial officer of the North Slope Borough until 2011 and chief of staff for Mayor Charlotte Brower in 2012. Hoffbeck's expertise includes the assessment of Alaska oil and gas property across the state. It was during Hoffbeck's tenure with the state that Alaska argued that the value of the pipeline was not so much in the tariffs it generated, but in the value of future oil reserves.

Hoffbeck, who received a master of divinity degree last month, is now in Kenya on a short-term medical mission with his wife.

Brower said Hoffbeck will be "great for the state of Alaska," as he is fair, honest, smart and dedicated. Hoffbeck worked as a lay preacher at the Presbyterian Church in Barrow while pursuing a graduate degree in theology.

"He knows state revenue, assessing and just about everything to do with taxation," Brower said.

"He has a higher calling, but now his higher calling is to help the whole state of Alaska."

Dermot Cole

Former ADN columnist Dermot Cole is a longtime reporter, editor and author.

Alex DeMarban

Alex DeMarban is a longtime Alaska journalist who covers business, the oil and gas industries and general assignments. Reach him at 907-257-4317 or alex@adn.com.

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