Former Alaska House speaker Michael Bradner dies of COVID-19 complications

Michael Bradner, a former Fairbanks legislator and journalist, died Saturday of COVID-19 complications, according to his family.

Bradner, 84, a Democrat, represented the Fairbanks area in the state House of Representatives from 1966 to 1976, serving as speaker in 1975 and 1976. He was speaker while the state’s Permanent Fund was established.

Bradner moved to Washington state after graduating high school in Indiana, and came to Alaska for a summer job, working as a deckhand on Yukon River freight boats. He eventually moved to Alaska, starting classes at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and working on the boats in the summers, his brother Tim Bradner said. He went on to work as a pilot and first mate.

Bradner traded out the seasonal work for journalism after he got married, his brother said. He worked at the Fairbanks Daily News Miner for several years, which his brother said ignited his interest in politics. Bradner was a legislative assistant in Juneau in 1965 and was elected to serve in the House by the next session.

“He was instrumental in development of state and local revenue-sharing, state petroleum tax and pipeline regulation policy developed in the 1970s, and the Alaska Permanent Fund, created in 1976 while he was speaker,” the Alaska House Coalition said in a written statement.

Bradner was an advocate for public and vocational education. He encouraged young people and enjoyed working with them, Tim Bradner said.

Michael Bradner and his wife, Jeanne, had six daughters and two foster daughters.

After a decade in the legislature, Michael Bradner stayed close to politics. He and his brother published subscription newsletters, the Legislative Digest and Alaska Economic Report. Tim Bradner said he got his start in journalism because of his brother’s influence and support.

In recent years, the brothers interviewed newly elected lawmakers for the KTOO program Gavel Alaska.

Bradner was outgoing and social, said his brother.

“He loved to talk and espouse about policy issues and engage in people’s conversations, debates,” Tim Bradner said. “He relished seeking out people with different points of view.”

Bradner died early Saturday at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage due to COVID-19 complications, Tim Bradner said. Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered that flags be flown at half-staff on Wednesday to honor Bradner’s life.