Tuckerman Babcock
Tuckerman Babcock | |
|---|---|
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| Chief of Staff to the Governor of Alaska | |
| In office December 3, 2018 – July 31, 2019 | |
| Governor | Mike Dunleavy |
| Preceded by | Scott Kendall |
| Succeeded by | Ben Stevens |
| 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 | October 24, 1960 Venezuela |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Kimberly Waychoff (div. 2005) Kristie Babcock |
| Children | 8 |
| Relatives | Lyda Green (mother-in-law) Ralph Samuels (brother-in-law) |
| Education | Wesleyan University (BA) College of William and Mary |
Tuckerman Babcock (born October 24, 1960)[1] is a political strategist who served as chairman of the Alaska Republican Party from 2016 to 2018.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Babcock has been living in Alaska since 1966.[3] In 1983 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Wesleyan University.[citation needed] In 1986, he attended the College of William and Mary.[4][better source needed]
Career
[edit]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.[5] 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.[citation needed] 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] and advised Sarah Palin in all of her campaigns between 1996 and 2008. However, the relationship between them stalled after Palin became a national public figure.[8] Twenty minutes after Governor Dunleavy took office, Babcock fired state elections attorney Libby Bakalar. She sued for wrongful discharge and was awarded $350,000.[9][10] The Alaska American Civil Liberties Union sued for unlawful firing of employees. Babcock left his position without prior notice in 2019. [11] In 2022, federal Judge John Sedgwick found in favor of the terminated employees, though he ruled that Babcock could not be held personally liable for damages in the action.[12] Between 1999 -2009, Babcock was the Manager of Government and Strategic Affairs at the Matanuska Electric Association (MEA),[13][14] and later was its Director of Human Resources[15] as well as Assistant Manager.[16] The MEA board of directors ordered General Manager Wayne Carmody to fire Babcock "without cause."[16] His tenure had been marked by substantially increased litigation costs, anti-union issues and discomfiture amongst employees.[16]
Babcock has served as precinct officer and district chairman of Alaska Republican Party. He also was state vice chairman and also briefly served as the party's chairman in the year 2000.[citation needed] 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.[17][18] Babcock won the election and also became a delegate for the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland in the summer of 2016.[3]
In the situation concerning three state Representatives who ran on the Republican ticket but afterwards joined in a centrist coalition with Alaska Democrats, thereby creating a bipartisan majority in the State House, he sent a critical open letter to the three lawmakers.[19] He also supported an attempt of the Alaska GOP to block those three Representatives from running again in the primaries of the Republican party.[20]
Political positions
[edit]Regarding the decision of Senator Murkowski and Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska to vote against the abolition of the Affordable Health Care Act (ACA) and its replacement by the GOP substitute, the American Health Care Act of 2017, Babcock stated that he was dismayed.[21] He reminded Murkowski and Sullivan in a letter, that the American people were promised by Republicans, on non-negotiable terms, that the ACA would be repealed.[22]
Personal life
[edit]Babcock was divorced from Kimberly Waychoff in 2005. He later married Kristie Babcock, the daughter of former Alaska State Senate President Lyda Green. Kristi owns a State Farm Insurance agency in Kenai. He has eight children and became a full-time parent after he was fired from MEA. The family lives on the Kenai Peninsula.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ "Reporting From Alaska- Small government champion Tuckerman Babcock lands big government job". Reporting From Alaska. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ |last=Cole|first=Dermot Alaska GOP names Babcock party chair, KTOO, Liz Ruskin, May 2, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ a b "Alaska GOP names Babcock party chair". Alaska Public Media. April 30, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Tuckerman Babcock". LinkedIn. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ Former Dunleavy chief of staff Tuckerman Babcock retires, Anchorage Daily News, James Brooks, August 31, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to the AOGCC Public Member Commissioners". State of Alaska. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Legislature(1997-1998)". Alaska State Legislature. April 22, 1997. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Palin´s cold shoulder". Politico. May 9, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ One Hot Success: Bakalar gets her revenge in court ruling, Anchorage Press, Matt Hickman, January 26, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ Alaska pays $350K to settle last wrongful-firing lawsuit from loyalty-pledge scheme, Alaska Public Media, James Brooks, August 2, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/judge-sides-with-alaska-attorney-who-alleged-wrongful-firing/2022/01/20/fa010064-7a69-11ec-9dce-7313579de434_story.html Former Dunleavy chief of staff Tuckerman Babcock retires], Anchorage Daily News, James Brooks, August 31, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ Judge sides with Alaska attorney who alleged wrongful firing, Washington Post, Becky Bohrer (AP), January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ "MEA coal-fired plant plan spurs heated debate". Alaska Journal of Commerce. December 5, 2007. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "HCR 9-MATANUSKA ELECTRIC ASSN DEREGULATION". Alaska State Legislature. May 5, 2001. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "MEA lineman files discrimination suit". Anchorage Daily News. September 29, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ a b c White, Rindi (September 29, 2016). "MEA board sacks two managers, targets general manager". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ David, Lance (May 28, 2018). "Babcock elected new Alaska Republican party chair". KINY. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ "Two announce candidacy for Alaska Republican Party Chairman". The Midnight Sun. March 1, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Fractured Capitol power structure complicates efforts to implement budget solutions". KTUU-TV. November 12, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "The Alaska Republican Party set to block three lawmakers from running in its primary". KTUU-TV. December 4, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "UPDATE: Reaction to Murkowski's No vote on GOP health care bill". KTUU-TV. July 27, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Pressure's on Murkowski, Sullivan as Senate prepares for health care vote". Anchorage Daily News. July 24, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2018.