Mat-Su senators get committee seats

JUNEAU — After the Alaska Senate finished organizing its committees, chairmanships of the education, rules, and state affairs committees were in the hands of Valley legislators.

On Tuesday — its first day in session — the Legislature sent out a press release announcing committee appointments.

Chairing the education committee is Mat-Su Republican Mike Dunleavy. Vice chair of that committee is another Mat-Su Republican — Charlie Huggins.

Huggins also is chair of the Senate Rules Committee, which interprets the Senate’s rules as well as manages the Senate’s calendar and internal administration.

Sen. Bill Stoltze, newly elected last year to the Senate after serving for years in the House of Representatives, is chair of the Senate State Affairs committee, which oversees state the departments of corrections, military and veterans’ affairs, administration, public safety, and the public facilities portion of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

In addition to the chairmanships, Valley senators have won seats on as members on various committees:

Dunleavy has seats on the finance and transportation committees.

Stoltze has seats on the resources and health and social services committees.

Huggins has a seat on the state affairs and world trade committees as well as on the state’s Legislative Council — the body that conducts legislative business when the Legislature is not in session.