Less than a week after Attorney General Gregg Renkes's surprise resignation announcement, Gov. Frank Murkowski made his selection for acting attorney general: the current deputy attorney general, Scott Nordstrand.
"I am grateful and honored that the governor has given me the opportunity to lead the Department of Law during this transition," said Nordstrand, who will work with Renkes for a few days to smooth the impending personnel change.
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Prior to becoming a team member for the Department of Law, Nordstrand was a civil litigator and partner at Anchorage law firm Owens & Turner, P.C. Nordstrand's private practice covered the areas of personal injury, employment relations and commercial disputes, focusing on trial, appellate advocacy and administrative advocacy.
"Nordstrand has solid legal creditials earned through nearly 18 years of private and public service in Alaska," Gov. Murkowski said.
Renkes resigned Saturday, blaming negative media coverage and political attacks for making it too difficult to continue serving as attorney general. He also cited the importance of preserving his family life as a reason for stepping down.
Nearly five months ago, the Anchorage Daily News revealed Renkes might stand to make financial gains in a state coal deal with Taiwan. Renkes owned stock shares worth $126,000 in KFx, a company with coal-drying technology that would likely be used if the state's proposed arrangement with Taiwan bore fruit.
An investigation completed by former U.S. Attorney Robert Bundy last month concluded that Renkes hadn't violated the executive branch's ethics code, but recommended that Gov. Murkowski take action to tighten and clarify that code of ethics.
After Bundy's 64-page report was released, Murkowski reprimanded Renkes for not seeking ethics guidance regarding his role in negotiations on the Taiwan deal, but said he would not request Renkes's resignation.
Nordstrand steps up to the attorney general position only temporarily; the position will be filled permanently at a later date. The governor has not made public his list of potential candidates for Alaska's top legal official.
Comments
2 comment(s)Margarite wrote on Dec 22, 2007 7:19 AM:
lillian wrote on Dec 22, 2007 7:13 AM: