Alaska Natives split on governor's race

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2002

Alaska Natives are split mostly along urban-rural lines over the candidates for governor of Alaska.

Frank Murkowski's economic development and roads platform has many in both camps interested. But executives of Alaska Native corporations tend to favor him more than rural residents.

Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer's views in support of Native subsistence rights have won her backing of rural residents and many tribal leaders. But some worry public endorsements will hurt their standing with Murkowski should he lose and return to the Senate, one leader said.

The Alaska Federation of Natives, the largest Alaska Native organization, traditionally does not endorse a candidate although it did so in 1994 with Gov. Tony Knowles. It sat out the following election in 1998.

Get the Story:
Roads plank makes inroads (The Anchorage Daily News 10/20)