AFN Coverage

Interior's Isaac wins spot as AFN co-chair

Jerry Isaac, the former longtime leader of the Tanana Chiefs Conference in Interior Alaska, was named Saturday as the new co-chair for the Alaska Federation of Natives.

Isaac, who served eight years as TCC president, beat current co-chair Tara Sweeney to claim the post. Sweeney is a senior vice president for Arctic Slope Regional Corp.

Balloting took place at AFN's annual convention in an open session in the main ballroom of the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center. Native groups from the Interior region and Southwest Alaska were among those that backed Isaac. The North Slope and Northwest regions supported Sweeney. Some areas, including Southeast and Bristol Bay, were split.

Isaac praised Sweeney's work and said he would look to her for guidance in his new role.

He joins Ana Hoffman, president of the Bethel Native Corp. and the other co-chair of AFN. The group's annual convention is the state's biggest gathering of Alaska Natives.

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