Senator Bert Stedman

Senator Stedman is known for his expertise on energy, taxation, public finance, and state budgeting issues. He served as Co-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee from 2007 – 2012. During his initial time as Co-Chair, billions of dollars were deposited into state savings accounts such as the Constitutional Budget Reserve and the Earnings Reserve Account of the Alaska Permanent Fund. Protecting the Permanent Fund for future generations of Alaskans to share the state’s oil wealth is his main priority. In 2019, Senator Stedman was again selected by his fellow legislators to serve as Co-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Senator Stedman also serves on the Legislative Budget & Audit Committee and the Legislative Council Committee.

Senator Jesse Kiehl

Jesse Kiehl is the senator for District B—representing Juneau, Haines, Skagway, Gustavus, and Klukwan. Born and raised in Anchorage, Jesse graduated from Whitman College in the late 1990's after internships with US Sen. Ted Stevens in Washington, DC and Gov. Tony Knowles in Juneau. Alaska’s capital city has been his home ever since. He and his wife Karen raised their two daughters here.

Jesse worked for the governor, staffed the State Board of Education & Early Development, then worked more than 18 years as a legislative aide for Southeast senators. He served almost eight years on the Juneau Assembly, including as chair of the finance committee. This is his seventh year in the Alaska Senate. He serves on the Finance, Judiciary, Education, and Transportation committees, along with the Legislative Council.

Senator Cathy Geissel

Catherine A. Giessel was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. Giessel earned a B.S. in nursing from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in nursing science from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Her career experience includes working as a registered nurse and advanced nurse practitioner. Giessel volunteered in a variety of organizations, including but not limited to: the Council of State Governments, the Energy Producing State Coalition, the National Council of State Legislators, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce, and the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Senator Gary Stevens

Senator Gary Stevens currently serves Senate District C in the Alaska State Legislature, which encompasses numerous coastal communities including Kodiak, Homer, Seward, and Cordova. Now in his 25th year in the legislature, he is again serving as the Senate President after serving as President from 2009-2013 and 2023-2024. He previously chaired the Senate Rules Committee, the Special Committee on World Trade, the Task Force Evaluating the Alaska Seafood Industry, and the Legislative Task Force on Civics Education.

Senator Stevens earned his PhD from the University of Oregon and was a Full Tenured Professor of History and Humanities at the University of Alaska for 25 years. He served the United States as an Army Intelligence officer and spent 13 years in local government as Mayor of the City of Kodiak, and the Kodiak Island Borough; and President of the Kodiak School Board.

Senator Stevens and his wife, Rita, are parents to 3 children and grandparents to 3 grandchildren. He was born in McMinnville, Oregon and has lived in Alaska for over 50 years.

Representative Andi Story

Andi Story has lived in Juneau for over 30 years, raising her three children Ellen, Mallory & Ryan while her husband Mike ran a small engineering firm. She served on the Juneau School Board for 15 years and has regularly advocated for increased focus on education and equity in Alaska schools before the legislature, as a co-founder of Great Alaska Schools, and as president of the Alaska Association of School Boards. Andi has a master’s in social work, and volunteers with the P.E.O. and the Northern Lights United Church. She enjoys walking outdoors, cross-country skiing, and time spent with family and friends.

Representative Sara Hannan

Sara is a life-long Alaskan and has lived in Juneau for over 37 years. She spent three decades in education, teaching high school for 21 years. She loves engaging in her community as a volunteer, working to support women, those less fortunate and the environment. She and her husband Mark have a small business selling locally caught fish. She loves exploring the outdoors in our beautiful and wet Southeast rainforest. 

Representative Rebecca Himschoot

Representative Rebecca Himschoot is a retired elementary teacher who represents the ocean and island region spanning from Yakutat to Hydaburg. She has served on several boards as well as the Sitka Assembly. Over her 30-year career in education, Rep. Himschoot was recognized as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator with a fellowship at the National Science Foundation and received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. She currently co-chairs the Education and Community & Regional Affairs committees and serves on the House Fisheries and State Affairs. Depending on the weather, she can be found on a mountain, in a kayak, bicycling, or hunkered down with a good book. Rep. Himschoot refers to her “North Star” as the Alaskan values of hard work, freedom, compassion, and integrity, and she is committed to improving the quality of life in her region and throughout Alaska.

Representative Louise Stutes

Louise Stutes was born in Seattle, Washington and lives in Alaska. Stutes graduated from Queen Anne High School. She earned an associate degree from Shoreline Community College and a B.A. from NW Medical College at the University of Alaska, Kodiak. Her career experience includes working as a business owner in Kodiak. She erved as the president of the Pioneers of Alaska

in Ketchikan.

Representative Jeremy Bynum

 Representative. Bynum was an elected assembly member on the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly, serving since 2020. As an assembly member, he co-chairs the Assembly/School Board Liaison Committee as well as serves on the University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan Campus Advisory Council. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA). He remains connected and invested with his fellow Veterans as an active member of the American Legion, Joseph T. Craig, Post 3, serving as an executive board member. He also enjoys providing service to others as a Rotarian and active member of First City Rotary. In 2010, he earned his Professional Engineer (PE) license in electrical engineering.