Palin taps local for AG post

Dec. 15, 2006

By MATT TUNSETH

Frontiersman

WASILLA - Although known for his deliberative nature, new Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg does harbor a bit of an impulsive streak.

He said when he first proposed to his wife of almost 25 years, at London's Hyde Park, Krystyna said she had to think about it - a reaction that didn't sit well with the young law student.

&#8220I threw the ring in the lake,” Colberg recalled.

Colberg flew back to California to resume his studies in the U.S., but couldn't handle the time apart from Krystyna, a native of Gdansk, Poland.

&#8220I flew back after seven days,” he said. &#8220That time she said yes. I think me coming back convinced her.”

The couple has been married since 1982 - though Colberg did have to buy a second ring. The first one was never found, though Colberg says he did return to look for it.

&#8220I think a duck ate it. It was probably lost somewhere over Africa,” he said.

The couple has been together ever since, and has two daughters, Dominique, a senior attending the University of Montana on a cross country running scholarship, and Eva, a seventh-grader at Colony Middle School.

Colberg, whose only previous political experience came in his two terms on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly, said his family is excited about his new job, although his wife and daughter now shy away from the telephone.

&#8220They are reeling as much as I am,” he said. &#8220I've gotten over 100 phone calls in the past 24 hours.”

Most of those calls have been from well-wishers, although Colberg said he has spoken briefly with the governor, mainly on nonspecific issues related to the new position.

&#8220Our conversations have been very brief at this point,” he said.

On Thursday, Gov. Sarah Palin said she tabbed Colberg both because of his ability to understand complex issues and his lack of ties to established political interests in Juneau.

&#8220I needed someone who understands the Constitution, who understands Alaska and doesn't come in with any kind of personal agenda,” Palin said from Fairbanks.

Issues such as the proposed North Slope gas line and same-sex benefits for state employees likely will keep the Palin administration busy from the get-go.

Palin said she and Colberg haven't discussed specifically how they'll handle these issues, but she's sent her new attorney general on a fact-finding

mission.

&#8220Our discussions have been that we need to gather all the information we can to start making good decisions,” Palin said.

And, instead of a mark against Colberg, Palin said his lack of a statewide political track record is positive, in that he doesn't bring preconceived notions or ties to special interest groups to the table.

&#8220It's one of the reasons I chose Talis,” she said. &#8220…he hasn't been bogged down with any past history on the issues.”

Any new attorney general is stepping into a big job.

Juneau mayor Bruce Botelho served both as an assistant attorney general and in the top position under Gov. Tony Knowles. Botelho said the biggest immediate challenge for Colberg will be learning how to manage a department with more than 500 employees and nearly 300 lawyers.

&#8220Anyone going into the position realistically has an on-the-job training curve that is upwards of a year,” Botelho said. &#8220That's just the nature of it.”

Botelho said he benefited from the advice of previous attorneys general when he took the job, and said he will make himself available to help

Colberg.

&#8220All former attorneys general are always ready to be there to help,” he said.

Colberg said he's spent the past couple of days digesting the massive amount of information that's been thrown at him since he accepted the governor's appointment.

&#8220This is the busiest I've ever been,” he said. &#8220There's a lot of reading and a lot of catching up to do.”

Still, Colberg said he's looking forward to the challenges that await him in Juneau.

&#8220I hope it works for me,” he said. &#8220It's an excellent opportunity, and I can't tell you how exciting it is.”

Before he officially takes over as attorney general, Colberg must be confirmed by the Legislature.