Byron Mallott

File:Byron Mallott 1973.jpg

Mallott was born on April 6, 1943, in Yakutat in the Territory of Alaska, to Jay B. Mallott and Emma M. Brown.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ruwTAAAAYAAJ&q=Byron+Mallott+1943+emma |title=Who's Who West, 1998-1999 |date=January 1, 1997 |publisher=Marquis Whos Who |isbn=9780837909288 |via=Google Books}} Mallott was an Alaskan Native of the Tlingit tribe.{{Cite web|url=https://www.alaskapublic.org/2020/05/08/alaska-native-leader-and-former-lt-gov-byron-mallott-dies-at-77/|title=Alaska Native leader and former Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott dies at 77|first1=Nathaniel|last1=Herz|first2=Alaska's Energy Desk-|last2=Anchorage|date=May 8, 2020}} His Tlingit name was Dux̱ da neiḵ, K'oo del ta', which means "'a person who would lead us into the future'".{{Cite web|url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2020/05/08/former-alaska-lt-gov-byron-mallott-dies-at-age-77/|title=Byron Mallott, former Alaska lieutenant governor, dies at age 77|date=May 8, 2020|website=Anchorage Daily News}} Mallott's father established a general store in a spare room of the family home in 1946. Mallott spent most of his childhood living in Yakutat.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FUND+MANAGER+GIVES+AWAY+CASH+:+RICH+OR+POOR,+ALASKANS+GET+DIVIDENDS-a084000670 |title=Fund Manager Gives Away Cash: Rich or Poor, Alaskans Get Dividends |access-date=December 10, 2010|last=Germain |first=David |date=1996-10-27 |work=Los Angeles Daily News }}

At age 13, Mallott began attending Pius X Mission, a Catholic boarding school located in Skagway, Alaska.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ktoo.org/2020/05/15/byron-mallott-my-friend-we-also-have-lived-life-fully-made-a-few-contributions/|title=Byron Mallott: 'My friend, we also have lived life fully, made a few contributions'|first=Jeremy Hsieh|last=KTOO|date=May 15, 2020|website=KTOO}} He graduated from Sheldon Jackson High School and studied for several years at Western Washington State College in Bellingham, Washington.{{cite web |title=Sealaska President Begins Rebuilding |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/21/business/business-people-sealaska-president-begins-rebuilding.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=8 May 2020}}

Mallott's political career began in 1965 when his father, who served as Yakutat's mayor for the vast majority of the position's existence, died.{{cite journal|title=1968 Directory – Borough & City Officials|journal=Alaska Local Government|volume=VI|issue=9|page=50|location=Juneau|publisher=Office of the Governor of Alaska, Local Affairs Agency|date=November 1967}} He left college and returned to Yakutat, running to replace him, and won the election. He left office before the expiration of his term, taking a job in the office of Governor Bill Egan towards the end of Egan's first governorship. His job in the governor's office was focused on local government affairs, one of the few constitutionally mandated executive functions in Alaska. Mallott was the first Commissioner of the Department of Community and Regional Affairs.{{cite web |url=http://www.alaskool.org/projects/biography/BMallott.htm |title=Byron Mallott biography |publisher=Alaskool.org |year=2004}}{{better source needed|date=September 2020}}

After Egan was defeated for re-election by Walter Hickel in 1966, Mallott returned to Yakutat and served on the city council.{{cite book |last1=Atwood |first1=Evangeline |author-link1=Evangeline Atwood|last2=DeArmond |first2=Robert N. |author-link2=R. N. DeArmond|title=Who's Who in Alaskan Politics |year=1977 |publisher=Binford & Mort for the Alaska Historical Commission |location=Portland, Oregon |page=61}}

In 1968, Mallott received the Democratic nomination for the 5th district in the Alaska House of Representatives. In the general election he was narrowly defeated by Henry E. Reeves by twenty-three votes.{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.alaska.gov/returns/68genr.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.elections.alaska.gov |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514231532/https://www.elections.alaska.gov/returns/68genr.pdf |archive-date=14 May 2009 |url-status=dead}} Mallott posted the $250 for a recount, but the vote total remained the same.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50537608/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ |title=Recount Begins On Several Races |date=November 25, 1968 |work=Fairbanks Daily News-Miner |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508233201/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50537608/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ |archive-date=May 8, 2020 |url-status=live |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1969, Senator Mike Gravel appointed him to serve as a special assistant.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50538309/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |title=Sen. Gravel selects Byron Mallott |date=January 17, 1969 |work=Daily Sitka Sentinel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508233429/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50538309/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |archive-date=May 8, 2020 |url-status=live |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Mallott became chairman of Alaska's Reapportionment Board. On September 5, 1980, he resigned from the board for personal reasons.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50539029/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |title=Reapportionment Chief Byron Mallott Resigns |date=September 8, 1980 |work=Daily Sitka Sentinel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508234351/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50539029/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |archive-date=May 8, 2020 |url-status=live |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In 1982, Mallott was appointed to the board of trustees of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation by Governor Jay Hammond to replace Elmer Rasmuson.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50539270/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |title=Mallott Named To State Dividend Board |date=August 4, 1982 |work=Daily Sitka Sentinel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508234631/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50539270/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |archive-date=May 8, 2020 |url-status=live |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1985, he was selected to serve as the chairman of the permanent fund; he later served as its executive director from 1995 to 2000.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50539467/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |title=Mallot Elected Fund Chairman |date=August 16, 1985 |work=Daily Sitka Sentinel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508235050/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50539467/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |archive-date=May 8, 2020 |url-status=live |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}

{{See also|List of mayors of Juneau, Alaska}}

Incumbent mayor Jamie Parsons declined to seek re-election in 1994 after one term in office.{{cite news|first=Lisa|last=Phu |title=Former Juneau mayor, capital city advocate Jamie Parsons dies at 74 |url=http://www.ktoo.org/2015/12/29/juneau-advocate-jamie-parsons-dies-at-age-74/ |work=KTOO-TV |date=2015-12-29 |access-date=2016-01-03}} On August 16, 1994, Mallott announced that he would run in Juneau's mayoral election.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50540836/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |title=Ex-Sealaska CEO Announces Candidacy for Juneau Mayor |date=August 18, 1994 |work=Daily Sitka Sentinel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509000944/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50540836/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |archive-date=May 9, 2020 |url-status=live |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was elected mayor of Juneau in that municipality's 1994 general election. He resigned from office after he was selected to serve as the executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50540702/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |title=Byron Mallott Chosen Permanent Fund Head |date=February 6, 1995 |work=Daily Sitka Sentinel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509000704/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50540702/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |archive-date=May 9, 2020 |url-status=live |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Mallott faced harsh criticism when he initially announced that he could handle serving in both positions, leading to changing his mind and resigning the mayoral position. Mallott was succeeded as mayor by deputy mayor Dennis Egan.{{cite web |title=Juneau Assembly to weigh costs, benefits of special election to replace mayor |url=https://www.ktva.com/story/36042907/juneau-assembly-to-weigh-costs-benefits-of-special-election-to-replace-mayor |website=KTVA |access-date=May 8, 2020}}

{{Main|2014 Alaska gubernatorial election}}

File:Byron Mallott oath.jpg

File:Alaska National Guard receives new commanding general 150526-Z-QK839-105.jpg

Mallott announced on September 2, 2013 that he was running for the Democratic nomination for governor of Alaska in the 2014 election.{{cite news|url=http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130903/byron-mallott-announces-decision-run-alaska-governor|title=Byron Mallott announces decision to run for Alaska governor|date=September 3, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2013|work=Alaska Dispatch|first=Alex|last=DeMarban|archive-date=December 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214012930/http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130903/byron-mallott-announces-decision-run-alaska-governor|url-status=dead}} He won the Democratic gubernatorial primary with 80% of the vote on August 19, 2014.

Independent candidate Bill Walker and Mallott merged their campaigns on September 2 to appear on the November ballot as one independent campaign, which the Alaska Democratic Party endorsed. On this ticket, Walker ran for governor with Mallott as his running mate. Both candidates' respective prior running mates withdrew.{{cite news|url=http://www.adn.com/article/20140901/walker-mallott-join-forces-governors-race|title=Walker, Mallott to join forces in governor's race|date=September 1, 2014|access-date=September 2, 2014|publisher=Alaska Dispatch News}} They won the election on November 4, 2014, as there was a recount due to a close election result.{{cite web |last1=Decker |first1=Cathleen |title=Unity ticket defeats Alaska GOP Gov. Sean Parnell in drawn-out race |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-unity-ticket-defeats-alaska-republican-governor-20141114-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=8 May 2020}}

{{Main|2018 Alaska gubernatorial election}}

In 2017, Walker and Mallott registered to run for re-election on an independent ticket. Despite running for reelection as an independent, Mallott maintained his Democratic Party registration. Walker and Mallott faced a Republican ticket headed by state senator Mike Dunleavy and a Democratic ticket headed by former senator Mark Begich. Mallott resigned from office on October 16, and Walker—after briefly continuing his campaign with newly appointed Lieutenant Governor Valerie Davidson as his running mate–suspended his campaign on October 19.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/19/politics/bill-walker-reelection-bid/index.html|title=Alaska Gov. Bill Walker suspends re-election bid|first=Caroline|last=Kelly|work=CNN|date=October 19, 2018|access-date=October 19, 2018}}

Mallott signed state marijuana regulations into effect in January 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.juneauempire.com/news/mallott-signs-marijuana-regulations-but-department-of-law-warns-of-security-gap/|title=Mallott signs marijuana regulations, but Department of Law warns of security gap|first=James|last=Brooks|date=January 24, 2016|website=Juneau Empire}} In 2016, Raven Radio reported that Mallott had logged 280,000 Alaska Air Miles in the first two years of his tenure as lieutenant governor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcaw.org/2016/11/07/29866/|title=Mallott anticipates smooth election, budget action in 2017|website=KCAW.org|date=November 8, 2016|access-date=September 29, 2020}}

Mallott resigned his post as lieutenant governor on October 16, 2018, citing "inappropriate comments" that he had made to a woman whom Governor Walker refused to name. He was succeeded as lieutenant governor by Valerie Davidson, the former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.{{cite web|url=https://www.adn.com/politics/2018/10/16/alaska-lt-gov-byron-mallott-abruptly-resigns-followiing-inappropriate-comments/|title=Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott abruptly resigns following "inappropriate comments"|first1=Annie|last1=Zak|first2=Tegan|last2=Hanlon|first3=Alex|last3=DeMarban|date=October 16, 2018|work=Anchorage Daily News}}

In 1972, Mallott became a member of the newly formed Sealaska Corporation and was elected director. He served as chairman of the board from 1976 to 1983. In 1982, he was selected to serve as the CEO and kept his position until retirement on July 1, 1992.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50539453/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |title=Mallot to Speak At Commencement |date=May 8, 1985 |work=Daily Sitka Sentinel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508235735/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50539453/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |archive-date=May 8, 2020 |url-status=live |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50540208/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |title=Sealaska Exec Mallott Announces Retirement |date=April 24, 1992 |work=Daily Sitka Sentinel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508235940/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50540208/daily-sitka-sentinel/ |archive-date=May 8, 2020 |url-status=live |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} He also established a permanent fund for Sealaska shareholders. The fund had grown to a net worth of $100 million by the late 1990s.{{cite book|title=Commission on Rural Governance and Empowerment, Final Report to the Governor|date=June 1999|publisher=Alaska Department of Economic and Community Development|location=Juneau|page=118}} Mallott served on the board of Sealaska until 2014.

Mallott was also a founding director of the Alaska Commercial Fisheries and Agriculture Bank. He was also a director of the Seattle branch board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and he served on the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. He served as a director of Alaska Air Group and on the board of the National Alliance of Business.

Mallott was a clan leader of the KwaashKiKwaan clan of the Raven tribe of Yakutat. He served as President of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) and received a "Citizen of the Year" award from AFN. Mallott served as president and CEO of the First Alaskans Foundation.

Mallott was appointed by Governor Tony Knowles as a co-chair of the Alaska Commission on Rural Governance and Empowerment. He also chaired the Nature Conservancy of Alaska and served as a director of the Alaska Public Radio Network.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

Mallott was married to Antoinette (Toni) Mallott, a retired schoolteacher who spent most of her career teaching elementary grades in the Juneau School District. They had five children. The Mallotts lived in the West Juneau neighborhood of Juneau, located on Douglas Island near downtown Juneau.

Mallott suffered a heart attack at his home in Juneau on May 7, 2020, and was flown by a medical charter to Anchorage, where he died the following day at the age of 77.{{cite news|url=https://www.alaskapublic.org/2020/05/08/alaska-native-leader-and-former-lt-gov-byron-mallott-dies-at-77/|title=Alaska Native leader and former Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott dies at 77|date=May 8, 2020|access-date=May 8, 2020|work=Alaska Public Media|last=Herz|first=Nathaniel}}{{cite news|url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2020/05/08/former-alaska-lt-gov-byron-mallott-dies-at-age-77/|title=Byron Mallott, former Alaska lieutenant governor, has died at 77|work=Anchorage Daily News|date=May 8, 2020|access-date=May 8, 2020|last=Brooks|first=James}}

{{Election box begin|title = 1968 Alaskan House of Representatives 5th district election{{Cite news |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=342666 |title=AK State House 05 1968 |date=February 6, 2010}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Henry E. Reeves

|votes = 696

|percentage = 50.84%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Byron Mallott

|votes = 673

|percentage = 49.16%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total|

|votes = 10,421

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title = 1994 Juneau mayoral election{{Cite news |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=539280 |title=Juneau Mayor 1994 |date=April 29, 2009}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Byron Mallott

|votes = 7,968

|percentage = 76.46%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Genji League

|votes = 1,223

|percentage = 11.74%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Alan Wicks

|votes = 1,141

|percentage = 10.95%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Write-ins

|votes = 89

|percentage = 0.85%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total|

|votes = 10,421

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title = 2014 Alaska Democratic–Libertarian–Independence gubernatorial primary{{Cite news |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=783462 |title=AK Governor 2014 - ADL primary |date=May 22, 2016}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Byron Mallott

|votes = 42,327

|percentage = 66.89%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Phil Stoddard

|votes = 10,514

|percentage = 16.62%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Carolyn Clift

|votes = 10,436

|percentage = 16.49%

|change =

}}

{{Election box total|

|votes = 63,277

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title = 2014 Alaska lieutenant gubernatorial election{{Cite news |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=789456 |title=AK Lt. Governor 2014 |date=October 16, 2018}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent (US)

|candidate = Byron Mallott

|votes = 134,658

|percentage = 48.10%

|change = +48.10%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Dan Sullivan

|votes = 128,435

|percentage = 45.88%

|change = -13.18%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Andrew C. Lee

|votes = 8,985

|percentage = 3.21%

|change = +2.16%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Constitution Party (United States)

|candidate = Maria Rensel

|votes = 6,987

|percentage = 2.50%

|change = +2.50%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent (US)

|candidate = Write-ins

|votes = 893

|percentage = 0.32%

|change = -0.04%

}}

{{Election box total|

|votes = 279,958

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title = 2018 Alaska lieutenant gubernatorial election{{Cite news |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=837995 |title=AK Lt. Governor 2018 |date=November 26, 2018}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kevin Meyer

|votes = 145,631

|percentage = 51.44%

|change = +5.56%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Debra L. Call

|votes = 125,739

|percentage = 44.41%

|change = -3.69%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent (US)

|candidate = Byron Mallott (incumbent)

|votes = 5,757

|percentage = 2.03%

|change = -46.07%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Carolyn F. Clift

|votes = 5,402

|percentage = 2.03%

|change = -1.30%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent (US)

|candidate = Write-ins

|votes = 605

|percentage = 0.21%

|change = -0.11%

}}

{{Election box total|

|votes = 283,134

|percentage = 100.00%

|change =

}}

{{Election box end}}

• List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite press release

| title = Sealaska community mourns the passing of Tlingit leader Byron Mallott

| publisher = Sealaska

| year = 2020

| url = https://www.sealaska.com/community/sealaska-community-mourns-the-passing-of-tlingit-leader-byron-mallott/

| access-date = 9 May 2020

}}

}}

{{Portal|Alaska|Biography}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}

{{S-start}}

{{S-off}}

{{S-bef|before=J. B. Mallott}}

{{S-ttl|title=Mayor of Yakutat|years=1965–1966}}

{{S-aft|after=Jerry Nelson}}

|-

{{S-new|office}}

{{S-ttl|title=Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs|years=1972–1974}}

{{S-aft|after=Lee McAnerney}}

|-

{{S-bef|before=Jamie Parsons}}

{{S-ttl|title=Mayor of Juneau|years=1994–1995}}

{{S-aft|after=Dennis Egan}}

|-

{{S-bef|before=Mead Treadwell}}

{{S-ttl|title=Lieutenant Governor of Alaska|years=2014–2018}}

{{S-aft|after=Valerie Davidson}}

|-

{{S-ppo}}

{{S-bef|before=Ethan Berkowitz}}

{{S-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Governor of Alaska
Withdrew|years=2014}}

{{S-aft|after=Bill Walker
Endorsed}}

{{S-end}}

{{AK Democratic gubernatorial nominees}}

{{Lieutenant Governors of Alaska}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mallott, Byron}}

Category:1943 births

Category:2020 deaths

Category:20th-century Alaska politicians

Category:21st-century Alaska politicians

Category:20th-century Alaska Native people

Category:21st-century Alaska Native people

Category:21st-century Native American politicians

Category:20th-century mayors of places in Alaska

Category:Alaska city council members

Category:Alaska Democrats

Category:Alaska independents

Category:American chief executives

Category:Businesspeople from Alaska

Category:Lieutenant governors of Alaska

Category:Mayors of Juneau, Alaska

Category:Native American city councillors

Category:Native American mayors in Alaska

Category:State cabinet secretaries of Alaska

Category:Yakutat Tlingit Tribe people

Category:University of Alaska regents

Category:Western Washington University alumni

Category:Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska