Walker names DNR, Revenue commissioners

  • By Becky Bohrer
  • Saturday, November 22, 2014 9:04pm
  • News

JUNEAU — Just over a week before he is sworn in, Gov.-elect Bill Walker announced his first Cabinet picks — Mark Myers as Natural Resources commissioner and Randall Hoffbeck as Revenue commissioner.

Myers is a former director of the state Division of Oil and Gas and U.S. Geological Survey who most recently has served as vice chancellor of research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Hoffbeck formerly served as a petroleum property assessor for the state and as a North Slope Borough finance director.

Walker takes office Dec. 1. In an interview Friday, he said he is examining positions and not looking at a wholesale change-out of personnel from Gov. Sean Parnell’s administration. There would have to be a reason for him to make a change, he said.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Myers would replace Joe Balash, who has been a key figure in current efforts to advance a major liquefied natural gas project.

During the campaign, Walker raised concerns with the state’s position in the project, saying Alaska isn’t in the driver’s seat. He said he also worried about letting companies with competing projects around the world determine if this one would advance. The state is pursuing the project with TransCanada Corp. and the North Slope’s major players — BP, Exxon Mobil Corp. and ConocoPhillips.

But Walker also said he is not interested in slowing down the project or starting over but in advancing it. On Friday, he said he would start off with the framework as it stands and said his preference is to stay within it. But Walker said he wants to hear more details about the project.

Walker spokeswoman Grace Jang said Saturday that it’s too early to say what might happen with the current gas line team. She said Walker would be getting briefed on gas line issues but she said he likely would make no decision on that before the inauguration.

Hoffbeck would replace Angela Rodell.

The choices were announced in a news release issued early Saturday morning. Walker’s camp was concerned with a possible leak of the names Walker was considering and made the announcement to stay ahead of it, Jang said.

On Friday, outgoing Gov. Sean Parnell said he will not request the resignations of the current commissioners. Parnell said it will be up to Walker decide whether he wants to ask for the resignations.

Walker said it is fairly standard for a new administration to request resignations, and he would have to decide whether to accept those or not.

The Cabinet appointments are subject to legislative approval.

More in News

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough considers seasonal sales tax rate

Borough sales tax would be modified from a flat 3% to a seasonal model of 4% in summer months and 2% in winter months.

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
King salmon fishing on Kasilof to close Thursday

If any king salmon is caught while fishing for other species, they may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Un’a, a female sea otter pup who was admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in June 2025, plays with an enrichment toy at the center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaLife Center admits 2 seal pups, 1 orphaned otter

The three pups join the Alaska SeaLife Center’s ‘growing’ patient list.

James Wardlow demonstrates flilleting a salmon with an ulu during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge to celebrate all things fish during weeklong event

Fish Week will take place July 16-19.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

Former KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School district finance department earns national awards

The two awards are based on comprehensive reviews of the district’s budget and financial reporting.

Children leap forward to grab candy during a Fourth of July parade on South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska, on July 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy Sarah Every)
Celebrating the 4th in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Independence Day parade.

Fire crews respond to the Bruce Fire, July 4, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska Division of Forestry)
Firefighting crews respond to wildfire outside Soldotna

The 8-acre fire and two “spot fires” of less than one acre each are located near Mile 102 and 103 of the Sterling Highway.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in