Hollis French
{{short description|American attorney and politician from Alaska}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Hollis French
| image = Hollis French.png
| caption = French {{circa|2010}}
| alt =
| state_senate = Alaska
| district = J
| term_start = January 15, 2013
| term_end = January 20, 2015
| predecessor = Redistricted
| successor = Johnny Ellis
| state_senate2 = Alaska
| district2 = M
| term_start2 = January 20, 2003
| term_end2 = January 15, 2013
| predecessor2 = Rick Halford
| successor2 = Redistricted
| party = Democratic (1978–present)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|10|11}}
| birth_place = Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = Peggy French
| residence = Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.
| alma_mater = {{Plainlist|
}}
Hollis S. French II (born October 11, 1958) is an American attorney, businessman and politician. He served in the Alaska Senate from 2003 to 2015. He was minority leader from January 2014 until he left office. During this time, French authored an unsuccessful bill to strike down the state's same-sex marriage ban.[http://juneauempire.com/state/2014-02-25/senator-proposes-striking-same-sex-marriage-ban Senator proposes striking same-sex marriage ban] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405024417/http://juneauempire.com/state/2014-02-25/senator-proposes-striking-same-sex-marriage-ban |date=2018-04-05 }}, Juneau Empire, Matt Woolbright, February 25, 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2015. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
He applied for a state judgeship position in July 2015.[http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/hollis-french-applies-for-state-superior-court-judge-seat/34281320 Hollis French applies for state superior court judge seat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151216031800/http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/hollis-french-applies-for-state-superior-court-judge-seat/34281320 |date=2015-12-16 }}, KTUU television, Chris Klint, July 21, 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
French is an attorney and he and his wife own and operate an apartment rental business.
French was appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission by Governor Bill Walker in July 2016.
Early life and education
French moved to Alaska in 1978. He first oil industry job began in 1979 when he was hired as a bullcook on Shell Platform "A" in Cook Inlet. Later, he worked in the Kuparuk Oilfield as a facility and drill site operator for ARCO Alaska while attending the University of Alaska, Anchorage, from which he graduated with a bachelor's degree in English. He attended Cornell University Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree.
Before being elected to the state Senate, French was an assistant district attorney.
French has climbed Denali to the summit twice.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hollisfrenchforsenate.com/ |title=Hollis French for Senate campaign site |access-date=2008-09-02 |archive-date=2011-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005010129/http://www.hollisfrenchforsenate.com/ |url-status=dead }} His father, Bob French, is a county commissioner in Summit County, Colorado.{{cite web |url=http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20041018/ELECTION02/40916015 |title=Bob French, Democrat, District 1 Summit County Commissioner {{!}} SummitDaily.com |website=www.summitdaily.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014545/http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20041018/ELECTION02/40916015 |archive-date=2013-12-03}}
Troopergate
{{Main article|Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal}}
In 2008, French was appointed by the Legislative Council to head an investigation into charges that Governor Sarah Palin "abused her office to get the Alaska public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, fired."[https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5702697&page=1 ABC News: 'October Surprise' Over Palin Investigation?]
2010 gubernatorial campaign
{{Main article|2010 Alaska gubernatorial election}}
On July 1, 2009, French announced that he had filed a letter of intent with the Alaska Public Offices Commission to run for governor of Alaska.{{cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/850783.html |title=French files for gubernatorial run: Politics |publisher=adn.com |date=2009-07-01 |accessdate=2010-08-29}} French received 18,018 votes (38.81%), losing the 2010 Democratic primary to former state representative Ethan Berkowitz, who received 22,607 votes (48.69%).
2014 gubernatorial campaign
{{Main article|2014 Alaska gubernatorial election}}
French initially decided to run again for governor in 2014, but later decided to run instead for lieutenant governor.{{cite news|url=http://www.alaskacommons.com/2013/10/16/hollis-french-swaps-roles-2014-gubernatorial-field-likely-set/|title=Hollis French Swaps Roles, 2014 Gubernatorial Field Likely Set.|date=October 16, 2013|accessdate=November 5, 2013|publisher=Alaska Commons|author=John Aronno}} He won the Democratic nomination.{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/14PRIM/data/results.htm |title=2014 Primary Elections August 19, 2014 Unofficial Results |publisher=State of Alaska Division of Elections |access-date=August 20, 2014}}
In September, Byron Mallott, the Democratic nominee for governor, merged his campaign with that of independent candidate Bill Walker. While Walker remained the gubernatorial candidate, Mallott ran for lieutenant governor as his running mate. Both French and Walker's original running mate, Craig Fleener, withdrew their candidacies.{{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|accessdate=September 2, 2014|publisher=Alaska Dispatch News}} The Walker-Mallott ticket defeated that of incumbent Republican governor Sean Parnell and his running mate, Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{CongLinks|congbio=|votesmart=27243|fec=|congress=}}
- [http://100years.akleg.gov/bio.php?id=713 Hollis French] at 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature
{{S-start}}
{{S-ppo}}
{{S-bef|before=Diane Benson}}
{{S-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Alaska
{{small|Withdrew}}|years=2014}}
{{S-aft|after=Debra Call}}
{{S-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:French, Hollis}}
Category:Democratic Party Alaska state senators
Category:Episcopalians from Alaska
Category:Businesspeople from Alaska
Category:Cornell Law School alumni
Category:People from Summit County, Colorado
Category:Politicians from Anchorage, Alaska
Category:Politicians from Newton, Massachusetts