Valley legislators hold various leadership roles

WASILLA — The state Legislature is in session and, for those keeping score at home, here’s a rundown of where Valley legislators wound up when the committee assignment process ended:

SENATE

Charlie Huggins (R-Wasilla) — In addition to being president of the Senate, Huggins chairs the Senate Committee on Committees and occupies a seat on the Rules Committee, the Legislative Council Committee and a special committee dedicated to world trade.

Mike Dunleavy (R-Meadow Lakes) — A former Mat-Su Borough School Board president, it should come as little surprise that Dunleavy was tapped to be vice chair of the Education Committee. He was also installed as chair of the Labor and Commerce Committee. He also has seats on the Finance Committee and the special committee evaluating throughput decline in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and the world trade commission. He’s an alternate on the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee.

Click Bishop (R-Fairbanks) — The former labor commissioner — whose district includes a healthy portion of the Mat-Su Borough east of Palmer, including Sutton and Chickaloon — is on the Community and Regional Affairs, Transportation, Budget and Audit, and Finance and Resources committees. He’s also co-chair of the special committee studying in-state energy.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Lynn Gattis (R-Wasilla) — Also very recently a member of the school board, Gattis was picked to chair the Education Committee. She’s also a member of the State Affairs and Transportation committees. She’s also on two special committees. One studies economic development, trade and tourism, the other studies fisheries.

Bill Stoltze (R-Chugiak) — Stoltze, whose district includes the Butte and Fairview, is co-chairing the Finance Committee. The House Finance Committee is the one in charge of the budget. It’s a lot of work; leadership there usually doesn’t take on much else committee-wise.

Mark Neuman (R-Big Lake) — Neuman is vice chair of finance.

Wes Keller (R-Wasilla) — Keller is chair of the Judiciary Committee and vice chair of the Health and Social Services Committee and the State Affairs Committee. He’s a member of the Rules Committee.

Shelley Hughes (R-Palmer) — Hughes is a member of the state affairs committee. She also chairs the special committee on economic development, trade and tourism. She’s a member of two other special committees: the Energy Committee and the Military and Veteran’s Affairs Committee.

Eric Feige (R-Chickaloon) — Feige is chair of the Resources Committee and a member of the Transportation Committee. He’s also a member of the special committee on fisheries.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.