Tony Knowles (politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Tony Knowles

| image = GovTonyKnowles.jpg

| order = 7th Governor of Alaska

| lieutenant = Fran Ulmer

| term_start = December 5, 1994

| term_end = December 2, 2002

| predecessor = Wally Hickel

| successor = Frank Murkowski

| office1 = 2nd Mayor of Anchorage

| term_start1 = January 1, 1982

| term_end1 = December 31, 1987

| predecessor1 = George M. Sullivan

| successor1 = Tom Fink

| office2 = Member of the Anchorage Assembly
from Seat A

| term_start2 = September 9, 1975

| term_end2 = October 2, 1979

| predecessor2 = Constituency established

| successor2 = Jane Angvik

| birth_name = Anthony Carroll Knowles

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|1|1}}

| birth_place = Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| spouse = {{marriage|Susan Morris|1968}}

| children = 3

| education = Yale University (BA)

| signature = Tony Knowles signature.jpg

| allegiance = United States

| branch = United States Army

| serviceyears = 1962–1966

| unit = 82nd Airborne Division

| battles = Vietnam War

}}

Anthony Carroll Knowles (born January 1, 1943) is an American politician and businessman who served as the seventh governor of Alaska from 1994 to 2002. Barred from seeking a third consecutive term as governor in 2002, he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2004 and again for governor in 2006. In September 2008, Knowles became president of the National Energy Policy Institute, a non-profit energy policy organization funded by billionaire George Kaiser's family foundation, and located at the University of Tulsa. As of {{year}}, Knowles is the most recent Governor of Alaska from the Democratic Party.

Knowles was discussed as a potential Secretary of the Interior or Secretary of Energy in an Obama cabinet, but in December 2008, Knowles was passed over in favor of Steven Chu as Energy secretary. He was also passed over in favor of Ken Salazar as Interior secretary. On April 28, 2010, Knowles was appointed to the National Park System Advisory Board by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

Earlier life

Knowles was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He volunteered for the United States Army in 1962, joining the 82nd Airborne Division, and later served in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Knowles achieved passage of legislation to create guaranteed veterans housing in the state's Pioneer's Homes, and honored their service through official days of recognition and the naming of Mount POW/MIA."[http://www.sitnews.net/1102news/111302_governor_veterans.html Governor Honors Veterans At Wasilla Wall of Honor"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320175927/http://www.sitnews.net/1102news/111302_governor_veterans.html |date=2012-03-20 }}. Sitka Daily News. 13 Nov. 2002. Web. Retrieved 8 Sept. 2011.

He earned a degree in economics from Yale University in 1968 where he was a Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity (Phi chapter) brother of George W. Bush. After graduation, he moved to Alaska and worked on oil drilling rigs on the North Slope and in Cook Inlet. In 1969, Knowles started his first of four restaurants including the Downtown Deli & Café in Anchorage.

An avid fly fisherman, cross-country skier, and (retired) marathon runner, Tony Knowles and his wife, former First Lady of Alaska Susan Knowles, currently reside in Anchorage, Alaska. They have three children, Devon, Luke, and Sara. His older brother, Porter Knowles, resides in Kansas.

Political career

After three terms in the Anchorage Assembly, he served two terms as mayor of Anchorage from 1982 to 1987. Knowles first ran for governor in 1990. He won the Democratic nomination, but was defeated by the AKIP nominee, former Governor Walter Hickel. In 1994, he defeated former lieutenant governor Stephen McAlpine in the Democratic primary and was elected governor in the general election. Knowles's election was surprisingly close, but he also benefitted from the split conservative vote due to a strong third-party gubernatorial bid by the sitting lieutenant governor. In the election, Knowles received 41.1%, Republican candidate Jim Campbell 40.8% and lieutenant governor Jack Coghill of the Alaskan Independence Party 13%.

Knowles won the 1998 election in a landslide, defeating Republican John Lindauer 51%-18%. Knowles's margin of victory in this race was due largely to a collapsed campaign from Republican John Lindauer, controversy surrounding Lindauer and his misrepresentation of facts on campaign finance documents, and questions about Lindauer's state residency."[https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/25/us/national-news-briefs-in-alaska-ex-candidate-faces-criminal-charges.html?src=pm In Alaska, Ex-Candidate Faces Criminal Charges] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123023829/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/25/us/national-news-briefs-in-alaska-ex-candidate-faces-criminal-charges.html?src=pm |date=2018-11-23 }}." New York Times. 25 Aug. 1999. Web. Retrieved 8 Sept. 2011. Republican Robin L. Taylor, who was defeated in the primary by Lindauer, garnered 20% of the vote after announcing his write-in campaign only one week prior to the election. Knowles did not run for reelection in 2002 due to a consecutive two-term limit. Alaska law allows for more terms, but requires a break between two consecutive terms and a third.

During the September 11 attacks, Korean Air Flight 85 from Seoul was feared to have been hijacked. Worried that a possible hijacked plane might strike a target in Alaska, Governor Tony Knowles ordered the evacuation of large hotels and government buildings in Anchorage.

Knowles was chair of the Western Governors' Association in 1997, two-term chair of the Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission, and a member of the Pew Oceans Commission (POC).

During his term, Knowles established Denali Kid Care, which provides basic health care for 25,000 children and 5,000 pregnant women. The National Child Welfare League named Knowles as their Child Advocate of the Year in 1998.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}

A strong supporter of the Alaska National Guard, Knowles was recipient of the Guard's Pro Patria award and the 2001 Charles Dick Silver Medal of Merit."[http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=100 Charles Dick Medal of Merit.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928140031/http://www.ngaus.org/content.asp?bid=100 |date=2011-09-28 }}" National Guard Association of the United States of America. Web. Retrieved 8 Sept. 2011. Click link at bottom for [http://www.ngaus.org/ngaus/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/000000007014/Charles%20Dick%20Medal%20of%20Merit%20Recipients.pdf list of past recipients]{{dead link|date=September 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}.

Governor Knowles forged the "Millennium Agreement", a government-to-government agreement with tribes to foster rural delivery of services and economic development. He earned special recognition by the National Congress of American Indians in 2001 and, with Marshall Lind, the 2002 Alaska Federation of Natives Denali Award, the highest award given to a non-native.Browning, Carla. "[http://www.uaf.edu/files/news/a_news/20021028164338.html Chancellor Lind Receives AFN Denali Award]." UAF News and Events. 28 Oct. 2002. Web. Retrieved 8 Sept. 2011.

Knowles pushed Canadian officials to adopt his "safe passage" principle to protect Pacific salmon and their freshwater habitat, leading to the successful negotiation of the first coast wide salmon treaty in decades.

During his final term as governor, Republicans in the Alaska Legislature attacked him as a weak leader who avoided taking a position on several issues, as exemplified by their "Where's Tony?" campaign.

In 2004, he ran for the United States Senate, as the Democratic challenger to Republican incumbent Lisa Murkowski, who had been appointed to her seat by her father, former Senator then Governor Frank Murkowski. Knowles was at first thought likely to win by many, but he was narrowly defeated in the election.

Knowles is an outspoken opponent of capital punishment."[http://www.ontheissues.org/Tony_Knowles_VoteMatch.htm Tony Knowles on VoteMatch]." On the Issues. Retrieved 8 Sept. 2011

Knowles is pro-choice, and opposes restrictions on abortion at any stage of pregnancy. He vetoed several bills passed by the state legislature regarding abortion including a ban on intact dilation and extraction abortions.{{cite web |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400EEDF1630F931A35756C0A961958260 |title=nyt.com | Bills to Curb Abortions Are Vetoed in Alaska |work=New York Times |date=1997-05-02 |access-date=2010-06-20 |archive-date=2008-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916210102/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400EEDF1630F931A35756C0A961958260 |url-status=live }}

On May 29, 2006, he announced his bid to return to the governor's office in 2006.[http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7780076p-7693042c.html adn.com | alaska : Knowles to run for governor] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060602005311/http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7780076p-7693042c.html |date=June 2, 2006 }} On August 22, 2006, Knowles defeated Eric Croft in the Democratic primary to become the Democratic nominee for Governor of Alaska in the general election.

On November 7, 2006, Knowles lost the Governorship in the general election to Republican Sarah Palin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/ref/washington/raceprofile_ALASKAGOV.html|title=Alaska Governor's Race - Sarah Palin, Tony Knowles - 2006 Midterm Elections - New York Times|website=The New York Times |access-date=2018-01-24}} Although many had predicted a close race, including pollsters for both parties, Knowles lost by 7 points, polling lower than in his 2004 bid for the U.S. Senate. Palin received 48%.

Obama administration

File:Tony Knowles NPS Interview.jpg

In September 2008, Knowles became president of the National Energy Policy Institute, a non-profit energy policy organization funded by billionaire George Kaiser's family foundation, and located at the University of Tulsa.Rod Walton, [http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=49&articleid=20090311_49_E1_TonyKn861425 "Green group to locate at TU,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313091331/http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=49&articleid=20090311_49_E1_TonyKn861425 |date=2009-03-13 }} Tulsa World, March 11, 2009.Rod Walton, [http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=49&articleid=20100623_49_E1_Nomagi485520&rss_lnk=5 "Tulsa-based energy panel NEPI releases summary"], Tulsa World, June 23, 2010.Marc Ambinder, [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/07/can-these-two-democrats-inject-rationalism-into-the-energy-debate/59687/ "Can These Two Democrats Inject Rationalism Into the Energy Debate?"], The Atlantic, July 14, 2010.

Due to his early support for Barack Obama, his status as a former governor of a western state, and his long-term involvement in oil and energy concerns, Knowles was discussed as a potential Secretary of the Interior or Secretary of Energy in an Obama cabinet. In December 2008 Knowles was passed over in favor of Steven Chu as Energy secretary, and passed over in favor of Ken Salazar as Interior secretary.[http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/nov/07/report-former-alaska-gov-knowles-list-obamas-possi/ Report: Former Alaska Gov. Knowles on list of Obama's possible Cabinet picks]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

=National Park System Advisory Board=

On April 28, 2010, Knowles was appointed to the National Park System Advisory Board by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.[http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/042910/reg_627603867.shtml Former Gov. Knowles appointed to national board] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811195346/http://juneauempire.com/stories/042910/reg_627603867.shtml |date=2011-08-11 }}, Juneau Empire, April 29, 2010

After a change in administration in 2017, he opposed many of new Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's policies, later claiming in his resignation letter that Zinke had no interest in the "mitigation of climate change; engaging young generations; evolving a more diverse culture of park visitors, advocates and employees; bringing our schools to our parks and our parks to our schools; stressing park urbanization; (and) protecting the natural diversity of wildlife." Knowles led a mass resignation in January 2018, citing differences with the Interior Department, especially Zinke.{{cite web|title=Former Alaska governor leads mass resignation from parks board|url=http://www.newsminer.com/former-alaska-governor-leads-mass-resignation-from-parks-board/article_1993d19e-fc34-11e7-b857-6f41ce69b0fc.html|website=Newsminer|date=18 January 2018 |access-date=5 February 2018}}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change | title=1981 Anchorage mayoral election (first round){{cite web |title=October 4, 1981 REGULAR ELECTION |url=http://www.muni.org/Departments/Assembly/Clerk/Elections/SiteAssets/Pages/History/1981%20results%20OCR.pdf |publisher=Municipality of Anchorage |access-date=13 March 2020 |archive-date=18 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418122739/https://www.muni.org/departments/assembly/clerk/elections/siteassets/pages/history/1981%20results%20ocr.pdf |url-status=live }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate no change |

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Tony Knowles

|votes = 20,090

|percentage = 39.58

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no change|

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Joe L. Hayes

|votes = 20,059

|percentage = 39.51

}}

{{Election box candidate no change |

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Dave Walsh

|votes = 10,090

|percentage = 19.88

}}

{{Election box candidate no change |

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Matt Hammer

|votes = 419

|percentage = 0.83

}}

{{Election box candidate no change|

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Drew M. Angel

|votes = 144

|percentage = 0.28

}}

{{Election box total no change |

|votes = 50,764

|percentage =

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=1981 Anchorage mayoral election (runoff){{cite web |title=RUN-OFF ELECTION OF 10/27/81 MAYORAL ELECTION |url=http://www.muni.org/Departments/Assembly/Clerk/Elections/SiteAssets/Pages/History/1981%20results%20run-off%2010.27%20OCR.pdf |publisher=Municipality of Anchorage |access-date=13 March 2020 |archive-date=18 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418110551/https://www.muni.org/departments/assembly/clerk/elections/siteassets/pages/history/1981%20results%20run-off%2010.27%20ocr.pdf |url-status=live }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate no change |

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Tony Knowles

|votes = 24,539

|percentage = 53.34

}}

{{Election box candidate no change|

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Joe L. Hayes

|votes = 21,463

|percentage = 46.66

}}

{{Election box total no change |

|votes =46,002

|percentage =

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=1984 Anchorage mayoral election{{cite web |title=MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE REGULAR ELECTION OCTOBER 2, 1984 SUMMARY REPORT |url=http://www.muni.org/Departments/Assembly/Clerk/Elections/Election%20Results/1984%20Regular%20Election%20Summary%20Report.pdf |publisher=Municipality of Anchorage |access-date=12 November 2019 }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate no change |

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Tony Knowles (incumbent)

|votes = 32,624

|percentage = 49.4

}}

{{Election box winning candidate no change|

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Tom Fink

|votes = 32,437

|percentage = 49.1

}}

{{Election box candidate no change |

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Craig Campbell

|votes = 199

|percentage = 0.0

}}

{{Election box candidate no change |

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Pat Sullivan

|votes = 148

|percentage = 0.0

}}

{{Election box candidate no change|

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Homer C. Miracle

|votes = 144

|percentage = 0.0

}}

{{Election box candidate no change|

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Aaron Belzer

|votes = 121

|percentage = 0.0

}}

{{Election box candidate no change|

|party = Nonpartisan

|candidate = Andrew Rich

|votes = 67

|percentage = 0.0

}}

{{Election box candidate no change |

|party = Write-in

|candidate = Write-ins

|votes = 175

|percentage = 0.0

}}

{{Election box total no change |

|votes = 65,915

|percentage =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=1990 Alaska gubernatorial election}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alaskan Independence Party

|candidate = Walter Hickel

|votes = 75,721

|percentage = 38.88

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Tony Knowles

|votes = 60,201

|percentage = 30.91

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Arliss Sturgulewski

|votes = 50,991

|percentage = 26.18

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Green Party of the United States

|candidate = Jim Sykes

|votes = 6,563

|percentage = 3.37

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=1994 Alaska gubernatorial election}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Tony Knowles

|votes = 87,693

|percentage = 41.09

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Jim Campbell

|votes = 87,157

|percentage = 40.84

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alaskan Independence Party

|candidate = Jack Coghill

|votes = 27,838

|percentage = 13.04

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Green Party of the United States

|candidate = Jim Sykes

|votes = 8,727

|percentage = 4.09

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=1998 Alaska gubernatorial election}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Tony Knowles (incumbent)

|votes = 112,879

|percentage = 51.27

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Robin Taylor (write-in)

|votes = 40,209

|percentage = 18.26

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = John Lindauer

|votes = 39,331

|percentage = 17.86

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Moderate Party of Alaska

|candidate = Ray Metcalfe

|votes = 13,540

|percentage = 6.15

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Green Party of the United States

|candidate = Erica Jacobsson

|votes = 6,618

|percentage = 3.01

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=2004 United States Senate election in Alaska{{cite web |author=David Leip |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |publisher=Uselectionatlas.org |access-date=2010-06-20 |archive-date=2018-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709214827/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |url-status=live }} }}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Lisa Murkowski

|votes = 149,773

|percentage = 48.6%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Tony Knowles

|votes = 140,424

|percentage = 45.6%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Marc Millican

|votes = 8,885

|percentage = 2.9%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Alaskan Independence Party

|candidate = Jerry Sanders

|votes = 3,785

|percentage = 1.2%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Green Party of the United States

|candidate = Jim Sykes

|votes = 3,053

|percentage = 1.0%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (US)

|candidate = Scott Kohlhaas

|votes = 1,240

|percentage = 0.4%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Ted Gianoutsos

|votes = 726

|percentage = 0.2%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Write Ins

|votes = 423

|percentage = 0.1%

|change =

}}

{{Election box begin | title=2006 Alaska gubernatorial election{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/Archive/06GENR/data/results.htm |title=Alaska Division of Elections November 7, 2006|publisher=Alaska Division of Elections |date=2006-11-07 |access-date=2019-04-22}} }}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Sarah Palin

| votes = 114,697

| percentage = 48.33

| change = -7.6}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Tony Knowles

| votes = 97,238

| percentage = 40.97

| change = +0.3}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

| party = Independent (politician)

| candidate = Andrew Halcro

| votes = 22,443

| percentage = 9.46

| change = n/a}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

| party = Alaskan Independence Party

| candidate = Don Wright

| votes = 1,285

| percentage = 0.54

| change = -0.4}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Billy Toien

| votes = 682

| percentage = 0.29

| change = -0.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

| party = Green Party of the United States

| candidate = David Massie

| votes = 593

| percentage = 0.25

| change = -1.0}}

{{Election box candidate|

| party = Write-in candidate

| candidate = Write-in votes

| votes = 384

| percentage = 0.16

| change = +0.1}}

{{Election box plurality|

| votes = 17,459

| percentage = 7.36

| change =}}

{{Election box turnout|

| votes = 238,307

| percentage = 51.1

| change = }}

{{Election box hold with party link|

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

| swing = -7.6}}

References

Specific

General

[https://web.archive.org/web/20060602005311/http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7780076p-7693042c.html "Knowles to run for governor"] by Matt Volz, Associated Press, May 29, 2006