(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - Governor Bill Walker accepted the resignation of Alaska Attorney General Craig Richards who said he is stepping down to focus on his family and announced the appointment of Andy Mack as the Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Commissioner last Thursday.

“With great reluctance, I have accepted Craig’s resignation,” Governor Walker said. “When I appointed Craig in December 2014 as Attorney General, I knew Alaskans would benefit from his deep respect for the law and his vast knowledge of finance. As the state’s top attorney, work has pulled him away from his 3-year-old son, and I am grateful for the sacrifices he and his family have made in service to Alaska. Given Craig’s knowledge of gasline issues, I’m certain the state will continue to benefit from his oil and gas expertise as we push toward completion of a project.”

Richards said the decision was not an easy one to make, but valued the opportunity to serve Alaskans during an important time in state history.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation as Attorney General,” said Attorney General Craig Richards. “I support the Governor and was honored to serve as the head of the State’s legal team. My reasons for leaving are personal. I feel I need to re-focus on my family, which is impractical given the travel and workload requirements of the job. The Department of Law has top notch lawyers, and I know the State is in good hands with these devoted public servants.”

Richards’ last day as Attorney General was Thursday, June 23rd. Jim Cantor, who is currently Deputy Attorney General, will step in to lead the Alaska Department of Law until the Governor appoints a new Attorney General.

Governor Walker also announced Thursday the appointment of Andy Mack as the Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Commissioner. Mack fills the vacancy left by Commissioner Mark Myers, who retired in February. Marty Rutherford, who has been serving as Acting DNR Commissioner, recently informed the Governor of her own plans to retire in June.

“I am pleased Andy has accepted this position, given his vast experience in oil and gas issues,” Governor Walker said. “As we look for more oil and gas exploration and development opportunities, Andy has the vision and passion Alaska needs to aggressively chart our own path. I am grateful to Marty, who has led the department seamlessly these past four months. Alaskans owe Marty a debt of gratitude for her nearly three decades of government service.”

Mack is currently a Managing Director of Pt Capital, the only private equity fund based in Alaska. Born and raised in Soldotna, Mr. Mack brings over a decade of experience in Arctic policy and development. He currently serves as an advisor to multiple Alaska Native Corporations engaged in oil and gas activities on the North Slope. In this role, he helped guide the regulatory drafting and implementation applied to drilling efforts in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas.

Mack worked as both a civil and criminal defense attorney for five years and as a legislative assistant for more than 10 years. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Concordia College in Minnesota and a juris doctor from Loyola Law School in California. He is a former member of the Resource Development Council of Alaska Board of Directors.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

Office of Governor Bill Walker
www.gov.alaska.gov

 

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